This is a good connection that every one can connect to. I believe that as it stands we are an invasive species in Iraq. Even though we are trying to make it better we are also making it worse. They are being help but they should also do this by them selves with minimal help. We are like an invasive species because many want we there and many don’t want us there because we are foreign and are change their culture. For better or for worse we are an invasive species no matter how hard we fight them.
Classic Rock is better
James
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As you may know, an Invasive species is one that "invades" and can cause problems for a native population. A similar situation can be seen in Iraq, where control was taken from the Iraqis and Saddam Hussein, and was given to United States forces. The infrastructure and delicate balance of Iraq was disrupted, similar to that of a native population devastated by a new species invading. The parallels can be seen, and the United States is very much so an invasive causing Iraqi's to fulfill a different niche then before. Making natives adapt is a big part of this, and it can be seen both in Iraq and native populations. Problems and a "free for all" mentality for survival might also arise, and has been known to occur. Natives also rush to adapt to current conditions presented, and it doesn't matter if this consists of a fish evolving to consume a different food source or an Iraqi civilian joining Hamas and suicide bombing American troops. Invasive’s might also cause native populations to move to other locations. This could be Iraqi' fleeing to another country, or a native fish population moving into brackish water to avoid stress and competition with a purely saltwater competitor.
---steve---
p.s. yes 80's is better...Nirvana's fame was nowhere near the amazingness as when Kurt Cobain died. Guns and roses makes the 80's better than your precious "90's"
I don't see a neat parallel with invasive species and invasive armies. The invation in Iraq seeks to bring democracy and a "western" culture of law. Our military can force this only as long as they are still there. However, Iraq is an middle eastern arab nation based on a barter economy, tribal rule, and fighting "western" invations for thousands of years. When we leave they will go back to "normal" or be ostracised by other arab nations. Invative species, on the other hand, are a problem because there is no defense against them. The ecosystem is not designed to react quickly to the new species, and thus their populations rise so rapidly they push out native species and produce a less diverse ecosystem. If the Americans were to permanantly move in, take their jobs, homes, farms, and push out the natives (say into the ocean), then you would have something similar. But we don't intend to do that, which makes us better than animals/plants in this case. As long as were on the subject, the American Indians would view us (european whites)as an invasive species. They were almost entirely wiped out and removed from their ecosystem not only by brute force but also deseases they had no resistance to. It's a slipperly slope comparing the human condition to nature. Nature is wonderful, but cold, heartless, and cruel. Survival of the fittest means a lot of death.
Oh, sorry I didn't sign that post.
Pro Mark.
I've never really thought of the ongoing war in Iraq in such an "environmental" way, but there are definitely some correlations between invasive species in an ecosystem and our literal invasion of Iraq. In all, I'd say that the Iraqi "organism" is totally rejecting any intervention by the likes of the United States or any other developed nation attempting to restructure the area. This type of purposeful introduction of new "species" into a different "ecosystem" completely parallels its environmental equivalent. A new "species", the United States, was introduced into Iraq in order to re-stabilize the region after the removal of Saddam Hussein. While initially the attempt fared well, the United States' presence in the region only served to destabilize the region even further, resulting in a near civil war between the sectarian elements in the area. In nature, similar events have occurred, such as when the Nile Perch was introduced into Lake Victoria to increase fishery yields. While initially no problems occurred, the population of the invasive species eventually boomed, laying waste to the native species of the lake. I believe the only way to truly "fix" the problem in Iraq is to remove ourselves from it, and let the nation recover on its own. Even now, the government that the allies have put into power is asking for a timetable for removal of our troops from the area. I believe that we've done as much as one nation could possibly hope to do, and should leave, which will hopefully allow the nation to repair itself, much as an ecosystem can repair once the invasive species is removed.
-Eric
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