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THE ARAB WORLD - which includes millions of Arabs who live outside the Middle East - is experiencing a collective hangover following the fall of Iraq to Coalition forces during the first half of April 2003, which is more shock and dismay and humiliation than "shock and awe".
There is shock and dismay that it took the US forces less than three weeks to reach and occupy Baghdad. The city's occupation by a non-Arab and non-Muslim invasion force is being widely compared in apocalyptic language to the fall of Baghdad to the Mongols in 1258, which ended the 'Abbassid Caliphate.
There is deep shock and humiliation at how little resistance the Iraqis put up to Coalition forces, especially when the hopes and sympathies of many Arabs were aroused during the first week of the war by the resistance of Iraqi irregulars and paramilitary forces in southern Iraq. Shock and humiliation become dismay and anger because an Arab leader and Government have proven to be full of empty, vainglorious and blood-thirsty boasts while inept on the battlefield.
Although most opinion in the Arab world was inclined to believe that the overwhelmingly superior Coalition forces would eventually defeat Iraq, few believed - or could believe - that the Iraqi resistance would be so short-lived. [Indeed, it is still possible that some symbols of Iraqi "resistance" will still appear - Ed.] There is also widespread dismay and denial at the general Iraqi welcome of the Coalition forces now that the former Government is undeniably gone. The disbelief and incomprehension are grounded in the widely held view before and during the war that held that "we support Iraq, although we don't necessarily support Saddam, and we don't support the use of outside force to overthrow an unpopular regime.
However, this view failed,...