What never ceases to amaze me is the attitude of many Americans that seems to consider the local population, be it Arab, Asian or whatever, to be nothing more than compliant chess pieces that can be manipulated by the American if only we say the right thing.
There is never any credit give to local forces, unless they mutiny or massacre some civilians. Nor is any weight given to the culture of the area. All schemes and actions are viewed through the prism of Western culture.
Someone once said that “the enemy get a vote” regarding the success of every plan. There doesn’t seem to be any idea, among the Western press especially, that the local civilians , soldiers, and government workers get a vote too.
They are just as capable of making up their own minds as you or I.
