Amir Butler

Amir Butler is executive director of the Australian Muslim Public Affairs Committee. In the following viewpoint, which Butler wrote during America’s 2003 war with Iraq, he questions whether the United States really intends to have Iraqis control their own political future. He contends that the majority of Iraq’s people, like most Middle Easterners, seek a greater role for the Islamic religion in political affairs, and that many object to regional governments (including Sad- dam Hussein’s regime) because they are too secular. American designs to make Iraq a secular democracy fail to take into account the fact that Iraq’s people do not want such a government, according to Butler.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What parallels does Butler draw between American actions in...