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'Prophetic' professors talk about Iraq
Panel of five BYU scholars address challenges with war
Sydney Brake
Issue date: 10/18/07 Section: News
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Tuesday's Convocation included five of these professors: Donna Bowen, Byron Daynes, Darren Hawkins, Wade Jacoby and Gary Bryner.
The United States will be committed to the conflict with the Middle East for another 30 to 50 years, Hawkins said.
"This problem is not going anywhere," he said.
Jacoby added that the wars would probably get worse.
"The good news is they want a democracy," he said. "The bad news is they don't want the U.S."
The professors' findings were rejected and considered "unpatriotic or politically motivated," according to a recent press release.
"Their expert predictions about the aftermath of an American invasion of Iraq now appear downright prophetic," the Deseret Morning News said earlier this year.
We need to find a political solution, Jacoby said.
"It's time for us to sit down and look the problem in the face and come up with some grown up solutions," he said.
Hawkins said Iraq is a very difficult situation.
"It's not clear what the best route forward is," Hawkins said.
Jacoby gave some possible solutions as to what the military can be doing positively.
He said the United States needs to train the Iraqis, defend Iraqi borders to monitor refugee flows and "part troops in Kurdistan."
"The U.S. military could help people lay the foundation for some kind of international force," he said.
The countries surrounding Iraq are of enormous importance, Bowens said.
Bryner said the U.S. military has become so interested with national identities that it has lost its power.
"We have become seduced by the power of the military because we have so little confidence in our other branches of government," Bryner said.
Hawkins said he believed our country's leaders acted in good faith.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 4
Liz Stephens
posted 10/18/07 @ 11:33 AM MST
It's true that this war is an ugly thing. However, it's going to get much uglier if we just pull out. I know it may seem that it's not going anywhere, but we have made progress with the Iraqis. (Continued…)
Jeffrey
posted 10/24/07 @ 8:36 AM MST
This whole war based on outright lies has been a disaster since day one.
We are not wanted there, we are causing incredible instability to the entire Middle East, our presence is funneling more members into Al Qaeda, and thousands of soldiers are dying for a purely political and military industrial complex agenda. (Continued…)
Jeffrey
posted 10/27/07 @ 5:01 PM MST
No, the media doesn't report it. It instead gives 90% coverage to Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, and little kittens caught in trees.
Of course, it doesn't report the private mercenary army known as Blackwater is responsible for murders of innocent Iraqi civilians and other heinous crimes. (Continued…)
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