From: John Beckett 

Adam Flinton  wrote in message
news::
> How do you meld  "we're the good guys" with "being nice
doesn't work"?
>
> Generally good guys are seen as being nice whereas Abu Ghraib style
> events are a product of the "no more Mr Nice Guy" mindset.

I haven't actually said "being nice doesn't work". I have
indicated that I don't think any amount of negotiations or concessions to
AQ would help them settle down. They will never be nice. Even if the US
converted to a Taliban-style government, the AQ people would be complaining
that it wasn't sufficiently sincere.

In the message you're commenting on, I was just saying that IF the US
decides it's a great idea to invade/liberate Iraq, surely even the dullest
member of the government or miilitary could see that some amount of
"being nice" to the locals would be a really good idea.

I am astonished at the brutality of the practices at Abu Ghraib, but I am
more astonished at the stupidity of those organising the fiasco. Also, what
about the stupidity of whoever is supposed to audit US affairs (the various
intelligence agencies should have predicted what fantastic foul-ups would
cause the Iraq affair to turn into a 100 years of hell).

John

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