Change policies, not states

[OSfollower]

The differences between the US occupation of Japan and Iraq are suggestive. The US fought Japan in exhausting war and had every reason to hate its government. Democratic America detested Japanese monarchy. The Western Christians were xenophobic about very strange customs of the Japanese. Yet the US was wise to change none of that. America strengthened the very Japanese institutions that underpinned the war, and only eliminated Japanese army, the direct threat. Then the US used those institutions to change the Japanese outlook from within. The mid-term result was hugely successful: Japanese ambitions were channeled in the economy, and the economy directed outward. The long-term change in mentality is unlikely, and Japanese imperialism would re-surface, reinforced by economic successes. Hardly any policy, however, could provide more than mid-term results. Contrast the American policy in Iraq. The US destroyed the institutions such as the strong government and police which cemented the multi-ethnic religiously diverse Iraq. Reforming a failed state is impossible; only strong states survive the reforms. America made the situation still worse by directly enforcing the law and pushing for the unwelcome political changes like democracy and Westernization. No people would accept new ideology force-fed to them by hostile outsider. They will fight or, at best, remain contemptuously passive. Once the occupation force withdraws, locals will run for the golden old values in their most extreme form. Population will firmly connect the resistance fighters with idealized old values, and elect them to power. America could follow the Japan example in nuclear Egypt, Iran, and North Korea. All of them still have strong security apparatus and reasonably conformant population. America may concur their capitals, install acceptable rulers without damaging the security framework of the countries, and have the new rulers brainwash their citizens with local variety of the Western ideology, from schools to mass media. Ataturk was almost alone when he started secularizing Turkey. Totalitarian governments plus the Western ideology could solve the problem of nuclear rogue states.

[88Mariner]

Re: Change policies, not states

but who could possibly be our modern-day General Marshall?

[thesightless]

Re: Change policies, not states

put me in charge and gimme the lee way, ill have the whole fucking region saying afternoon prayers to me, not some god. sadr city would look like a meteor hit it.

[Lorn]

Re: Change policies, not states

Hell of a first post.

[Kamal]

Re: Change policies, not states

The differences between the US occupation of Japan and Iraq are suggestive. The US fought Japan in exhausting war and had every reason to hate its government. Democratic America detested Japanese monarchy. The Western Christians were xenophobic about very strange customs of the Japanese. Yet the US was wise to change none of that. America strengthened the very Japanese institutions that underpinned the war, and only eliminated Japanese army, the direct threat. Then the US used those institutions to change the Japanese outlook from within. The mid-term result was hugely successful: Japanese ambitions were channeled in the economy, and the economy directed outward. The long-term change in mentality is unlikely, and Japanese imperialism would re-surface, reinforced by economic successes. Hardly any policy, however, could provide more than mid-term results. Contrast the American policy in Iraq. The US destroyed the institutions such as the strong government and police which cemented the multi-ethnic religiously diverse Iraq. Reforming a failed state is impossible; only strong states survive the reforms. America made the situation still worse by directly enforcing the law and pushing for the unwelcome political changes like democracy and Westernization. No people would accept new ideology force-fed to them by hostile outsider. They will fight or, at best, remain contemptuously passive. Once the occupation force withdraws, locals will run for the golden old values in their most extreme form. Population will firmly connect the resistance fighters with idealized old values, and elect them to power. America could follow the Japan example in nuclear Egypt, Iran, and North Korea. All of them still have strong security apparatus and reasonably conformant population. America may concur their capitals, install acceptable rulers without damaging the security framework of the countries, and have the new rulers brainwash their citizens with local variety of the Western ideology, from schools to mass media. Ataturk was almost alone when he started secularizing Turkey. Totalitarian governments plus the Western ideology could solve the problem of nuclear rogue states.

So you're thanking the US for Japan's Economy ? I'd like to see some evidence of what you're on about before you give the US another pat on the back.

Not to mention (as I've stated in my other post) the reason (in my opinion) is that Iraqi policy has failed because overall in the Middle Eastern Region, states have been governed by absolute power versus Japan being a democratic country .... so they are totally opposite comparisons.

[thesightless]

Re: Change policies, not states

So you're thanking the US for Japan's Economy ? I'd like to see some evidence of what you're on about before you give the US another pat on the back.

.

we created their constitution, ran thier government for a period of time, and became a major ally in economics, lowering tarriffs, eventually allowing the free trade agreements that killed us here domestically...... we had a lot to do with it, not all, but a fair share.

[rubyraks]

Re: Change policies, not states

So you're thanking the US for Japan's Economy ? I'd like to see some evidence of what you're on about before you give the US another pat on the back.

.

we created their constitution, ran thier government for a period of time, and became a major ally in economics, lowering tarriffs, eventually allowing the free trade agreements that killed us here domestically...... we had a lot to do with it, not all, but a fair share.

seconded...and also don't underestimate the savings to their economy of minimal military costs.

[Kamal]

Re: Change policies, not states

^^ That is more of an outcome due to the restrictions laid out on them after WWII rather than an intentional implementation.

[rubyraks]

Re: Change policies, not states

^there's no doubt that the bonus to Japan's economy was not what the Allies intended when they didn't allow them a miltary, but it was the result of our protecting them nonetheless...imagine if they had to deal with the Chinese following the war and we all know that the Chinese wanted to slaughter the shit out of them.

Hence their economy is, at least, partially thanks to us.

The fact that they built a high tech economy, rather than through cheap manufacturing, is to their credit. Though with all these unintentional advantages, they had the extra time.