Are we going to see slogans such as nationalism and other such myths buried forever in the ruins of Iraq as also happened to them in Kabul? While American bombers were carrying out the most devastating air raids on the Afghan capital in response to the Sept. 11 attacks, the news was spread among our people that victory was on the side of the defenders and that the invaders would be repelled and driven out like dogs with their tails between their legs.
We watched on television as the defenders threatened and promised the invaders that Kabul would be their graveyard. But when the enemy arrived at the gates of Kabul, the defenders held on for just four hours before fleeing to the mountains, carrying with them the myth of the invincible army of the faithful. Much the same scenario was repeated in Baghdad with its defenders insisting they would also bury the invading army at the city gates.
We know of course in retrospect what actually happened. History as we know repeats itself, but on both these occasions, the defenders failed to learn from the numerous examples offered by history. They simply ignored two highly important military considerations: Time and geography. In considering how the battle was fought, there is a slight difference between Kabul and Baghdad. In the latter the defenders blended nationalist slogans with the extremist ones in order to appeal to people’s sentiments and rally followers to support them. They presented themselves to the world as a chosen group whose mission was to defend the honor of mankind. While the invaders were dropping bombs and raining death and destruction in Baghdad, the defenders simply bombarded us with propaganda.
Then the smoke cleared and the dust settled and the Arabs received the shock of their life. Baghdad had been taken and its eloquent defenders had slipped away and evidently disappeared from the face of the earth.
Now after all these setbacks and defeats, is the Arab mind still capable of producing more myths? Will we see a new slogan created for a new army to march under?
Arab News From the Local Press 17 April 2003
