Stockholm Syndrome

In a surprise visit to Iraq, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld made a point to lecture the new Iraqi officials on how to run a government. Warning the officials against u201Cincompetenceu201D and u201Ccorruption,u201D he said that he hoped that the government would include u201Chighly competent people who are not going to politicize security forces.u201D

Reflecting the obeisant attitude that U.S. officials have come to expect from team players in the U.S. Empire or perhaps simply reflecting symptoms of the Stockholm Syndrome, Iraqi officials u201Cgreeted Rumsfeld’s comments warmly,u201D according to the Los Angeles Times.

Too bad. Wouldn’t it have been nice if those Iraqi officials had instead replied to Rumsfeld’s lecture as follows: