A few years from now

[Steve]

For all the name-calling and chest-thumping, the American public simply won't support "empire building", at least not the kind currently being touted as the purported goals of the Bush Administration.

So, let's look at how things may be, a few years from now:

Iraq has been liberated.  The Ba'ath party leadership has been held accountable for proven crimes.  The Iraqi economy is mostly rebuilt; oil is flowing out, money and goods are flowing in.  Iraqi sovereignty and cultural and religious traditions have been respected.  There is an elected government in place with professional police and judiciary.  Life for the average Iraqi is immeasurably better than it's been in recent memory.

The U.S. troops are gone.  Overall U.S. military presence in the Middle East is at low levels and mostly limited to quartermaster and liaison functions.

How will most Muslims react?  What will be the attitude of the average, moderate Muslim toward the U.S.? 

[ethics]

Originally posted by stevent

How will most Muslims react?  What will be the attitude of the average, moderate Muslim toward the U.S.? 

In Iraq? Probably favorable. Elsewhere? They would want the same help Iraq got.

[ShinyTop]

Both of them will feel good will towards the US. Seriously, the clerics will be denouncing the new Iraq as they did the secular Iran, if it is not ruled by Islamic law we will still be the great Satan. They consider the outcome you project as an abomination.

[Domh]

US forces will be in Iraq in force for as many as 10 years, and in a more limited fashion for longer.

The attitude of the Iraqi people towards the west will improve, but resistance and resentment, even in the face of overwhelming humanitarian assistance and a massive improvement in the lives of the Iraqi people, will remain.

There is nothing the developed western world can do to significantly modify 'general Muslim concensus' in the Arab mind.

The Arab mind is a battlefield on which there can never be victory. No matter how much aid and assistance it provides, the western world will always be a spiritual abomination to the Arab mind.

It is as impossible for us to understand how they can want and appreciate our aid and assistance while simultanesouly despising us, as it is for them to not despise us in the face of overwhelming assistance and the provision of the means to acheive freedom and self governance.

[immortal one]

We'll always be in the Mid-East. Always. We're everywhere you want to go.

As for the "American Public" they will eat just about anything they're fed.

[Stiofán]

Quite to the point, and correct.