Originally posted by Dan Nixon: Initially, I felt the photos would be bad for us in Arab eyes. Clearly, big problems existed in the military leadership/supervision and the perps were clearly sadistic.
Though I wish the incident had not occured, as I think more about it I am not so sure this is big damage for us. We do/did not have a "sqeeky clean image" in the middle east to begin with....because of past involvement with Sadam & Bin Laden in earlier years, meddling in Isreal/Palestinian affairs + years of one sided brainwashing by Arab media we already looked pretty BAD going in. On the other hand....As a result of our overwhelming force and not backing down (like the UN & Spain for example) when face to face, I think they have a new found respect (read fear if you like) for our ruthlessness, "visciousness" and tenacity. Keep in mind, torture is not something new in the middle east but rather buisiness as usual. There sensitivities are not so delicate. We of course do generally not percieve ourselves as capable of the cruealty and malace docummented in the photos but it does reinforce the image to those that already hate us.
These folks do seem to respect ruthless and crualty...nobody was lining up to cause Sadam any trouble yet he was hated. Being hated does not mean you get attacked...if potential attackers are afraid of the consequences. In the past we were seen as evil cowards, now more like evil and ruthless aggressors. Not people to be messed with..
It will of course give arab nations a venue to protest, and will of course reinforce Kofi Anans & France's senses of moral superiority. But probably not a big impact otherwise.
The other point is that actions are respected more than words especially in the middle east. Iraqis, while still greatful for our removing Sadam, are increasing against us because they percieve that we will not leave. But we clearly will (and it is critical that it is percieved to be on our terms). When we DO leave, I predict much of that anti-US sentiment will fade, when it becomes clear that we were not interested in occupation or stealing oil or turning everyone into a Christian.
