Occupied Iraq Vs. Occupied Japan.

[2strokebloke]

Since we were typing about Japan after WWII, here's a somewhat interesting article, that makes a few comparisons between Iraq and Japan:
http://www.theglobalist.com/DBWeb/pr...x?StoryId=3711

[Muscletang]

I found this article very interesting as well. I find that an article comparing post WW2 Germany and Iraq should be included as well.
Germany was more like Iraq because up until 1948 things were looking bad there.
There were reports of suicide bombings, rail roads being destroyed, guerilla groups trying to create an uprise, civil unrest, and acts of sabotage in Germany after the war just like Iraq today.
In the end it all worked out and look at Germany and Japan today. Both of these countries are right behind the U.S. in many areas of trade, technology, ect. Maybe Iraq will be the same once we give it some time.

[freakray]

Originally Posted by Muscletang

Both of these countries are right behind the U.S. in many areas of trade, technology, ect. Maybe Iraq will be the same once we give it some time.

While this is true, it did take these countries nearly 40 years to get to a position of global economic significance.
So, while Iraq could do the same, considering the fact that they don't have the skilled labor force Japan and Germany developed over the course of WWII, it will likely take Iraq longer than 40 or 50 years to achieve what Japan and Germany have.

[MagicRat]

Originally Posted by freakray

While this is true, it did take these countries nearly 40 years to get to a position of global economic significance.
So, while Iraq could do the same, considering the fact that they don't have the skilled labor force Japan and Germany developed over the course of WWII, it will likely take Iraq longer than 40 or 50 years to achieve what Japan and Germany have.

Actually, Japan and Germany were economically significant by the late 50's. This was due in part to deliberate efforts on the part of the US and the other NATO allies.
It really was touch and go whether West Germany, and to a lesser extent, Japan would fall under the influence of the Communists in the late 40's and early 50's
One of the best ways to defend against that was through generating economic prosperity.
As for Iraq, they could become as influential as Saudi Arabia in the future. The Saudis are, themselves, poorly educated and economically unproductive. Most of their skilled and technical jobs (and even unskilled work) are done by foreigners. However, just because the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is parked on a hell of a lot of oil, they have tremendous economic clout.
If/when Iraq gets its act together, they have a very good chance of being the dominant economic power in the middle east.

[codycool]

Another reason for Japans economy uprising is due to the fact that after the war America built hundreds of factorys with modern technology that pushed them ahead of many countrys during the end of the industrial revolution. This is the main reason they are the leading country in automobile production!

[YogsVR4]

While the Allies helped rebuid the factories, the populations of Germany and Japan were (overall) educated and familiar with the technology. I don't think the Iraqis are in quite the same position as the Germans and Japanese.

Another big difference is that Japan and Germany were ground to dust in a short period of time and totally defeated. Iraq has been spiralling since the early nineties and though the war was over quick, it did not have the raze everything in its path style of WWII.

[TRD2000]

good points Yogs, however another point people seem to be missing is that unlike Iraq, Japan and especially germany were capable of standing toe to tow with the rest of the world prior to the war. They were highly developed nations in their own right and while the war may have set that back, efforts to rebuild them meant they managed to get somewhat back on track.

Prior to the war germany was a superpower, and a model country as far as development goes, hitler may have been an asshole but he definately did a lot for germany through and coming out of the depression. just look at the names on the manhatten project, germany was technologically ahead of the U.S., in fact it is quite possible that germany still outpaces the U.S. on technology, especially application thereof in their automotive industry, and this is automotive forums.

[2strokebloke]

Originally Posted by YogsVR4

While the Allies helped rebuid the factories, the populations of Germany and Japan were (overall) educated and familiar with the technology. I don't think the Iraqis are in quite the same position as the Germans and Japanese.

This is certainly true about the Germans, but not quite true about the Japanese. Germany had already been on the technological leading edge before the war, but Japan on the other hand was still learning alot about modern industry before and during the war.

[TRD2000]

the japanese were certainly on a much more level playing field than Iraq though. although that is as a country, perhaps as a population they are more comparable.

[Muscletang]

Originally Posted by TRD2000

good points Yogs, however another point people seem to be missing is that unlike Iraq, Japan and especially germany were capable of standing toe to tow with the rest of the world prior to the war. They were highly developed nations in their own right and while the war may have set that back, efforts to rebuild them meant they managed to get somewhat back on track.

Prior to the war germany was a superpower, and a model country as far as development goes, hitler may have been an asshole but he definately did a lot for germany through and coming out of the depression. just look at the names on the manhatten project, germany was technologically ahead of the U.S., in fact it is quite possible that germany still outpaces the U.S. on technology, especially application thereof in their automotive industry, and this is automotive forums.

Actually, when the 91 Gulf War started Iraq had the 6th (might be anywhere between 5th-8th) largest army in the world. I say that's good enough to go toe to toe with almost anybody in the world. After the conflict was over it was estimated by the damage that it'd take Sadam 10 years to rebuild his army to it's original heights. So after 2001 Sadam's army was back in the top ten as the largest on earth.

Actually, I don't know if I'd call Germany a superpower before WW2. They had a depression that made ours look like a walk in the park. People praised Hitler because he did what he considered simple, get everybody working by building an army. It gave the people work and something to do and the fruits of their labors was an army able to take on Europe.

[TRD2000]

yeah right.

[accent gsi]

i think irak had the 4th biggest army, a lot of confidence in tank's offensive and other war tricks, useless against massive bomb attacks ('cause north american missiles can have anything except precission or whatever its spelled). After that Saddam changed its army vision from "mass troops" to "small and efficient guards". The main difference between Irak and other country occupied and then rebuild by the US it's the ppl attitude to the occupant. They've been hating north americans for years, they terrorist activity is long dated and, and, they have religious based ideas of it. Nice coctel the one bush have made...

about the japanese reconstruction; thats right, japan before war was in a better position than germany ("kokoro"/laftcadio hearn ¿? its a nice testimonial), some troubbles involved with oil (petrol) were the main cause to war; but instead of germany during reconstruction, even citizen's life was changed to their requeriments. Ford's mass production was upgraded and improved by the japanese (makin' em its own version), industry and technological development were achivied but a high social cost. (loss of individuality, poor contact with other subjects, pre-destinated infants, etc)

[accent gsi]

Hitler and technology? in some way.... thinking about the bug or beetle (vw). Check it out that the most important development in nuclear science was made by jews (in a polite way! no racism....), using German's rocket development and some first steps in radioactive stuffs.

We airplane lover's will never forgive him for making the Messerschmitt 262 a bomber instead of a fighter.

[TRD2000]

mmmm and i supose therein lies the difference between size and strength. because Iraq was certainly not the 4th or even 6th strongest military in the world.

[Muscletang]

Originally Posted by TRD2000

mmmm and i supose therein lies the difference between size and strength. because Iraq was certainly not the 4th or even 6th strongest military in the world.

Actually you'd be surprised that Iraq had a rather strong military. Remember that Iraq had some of the latest of Soviet technology. They had the tanks, guns, and planes from the former Soviet Union. Thing is, the U.S. had better technology than the Soviet Union and overall, better stuff.
In one tank battle, 10 M-1 Abrum tanks were ambushed by almost 50 T-72 (whatever the name of that Soviet tank was) tanks in a valley. Every single one of the Iraq tanks was destroyed and every U.S. tank rolled out unharmed.