Slamming the door shut on early Iraq exit
December 19, 2005 ~ 11:15 a.m.
In his televised speech to the nation yesterday, President Bush admitted mistakes and shortcomings in Iraq, acknowledging that some of his decisions �have led to terrible loss.� But he continued to defend the biggest �mistake� of all, according to his liberal and paleo-conservative critics � the war itself � asserting that we continue to move ever closer to real progress.
Spelling it out to doubtful Americans, the President stated, with regard to an immediate withdrawal of troops, �We would hand Iraq over to enemies who have pledged to attack us, and the global terrorist movement would be emboldened and more dangerous than ever before. To retreat before victory would be an act of recklessness and dishonor � and I will not allow it.�
Although violence has predictably flared up again in the wake of the successful December 15 round of voting, the fact that the election yet again brought large numbers of Iraqis to the polls displays the baby steps toward a democratic representational republic that Iraq will eventually become.
Let�s look at a few facts. The Kurds are happy in the north. The Shia have largely calmed down under a constitution that favors them, Al-Sistani�s influence and the guns-for-funds program that the rival Shi�ite leader Al-Sadr endorsed last year. And the Sunnis, who have made up most of the domestic insurgency and shunned past elections, participated in the recent round of voting in record numbers. The Sunnis were instructed by spiritual leaders in their community that it was a religious duty to vote.
If, as Senator Carl Levin notes, the Sunnis can secure power through the Iraqi constitution, then one huge problem that has dogged a democratic Iraq all along will have been significantly ameliorated. In fact, it is essential that the Sunnis have a stake in the process to balance the power of the Shia who, if led by the wrong leader, could result in Iran-style theocracy. (Although, it is fair to note that a Shia party leader, Bayan Jabr, recently said, �The fears and concerns of some Iraqis and international and regional figures on this issue are baseless since we have already agreed on the main principles [of government] in that it will embrace Iraqis of all ethnic and sectarian coloring.�)
This doesn�t mean the path we take for a democratic and secure Iraq will be easy in light of the recent successful election. Tasks remain to be completed and obstacles to be hurdled. Which is exactly why pulling out of Iraq now would be so disastrous. To go this far only to abandon the project would show not only a lack of care, but also of courage.
The most telling sign remains the voting. If the intention is to get the Americans out of their country, Iraqis will see the sense in guiding the formation of a stable government as soon as possible. They are recognizing that the insurgents are blocking any attempt to end the American occupation.
�There is a difference between honest critics, who recognize what is wrong,� Bush said in his speech, �and defeatists, who refuse to see that anything is right.�
Exactly so. The decision to invade Iraq is certainly not above reproach. But the vehemence with which most critics engage in their opposition and their flat-out refusal to acknowledge any good progress in Iraq are the most disturbing and daunting aspects about the War in Iraq. The more this carries on, the greater the possibility that we really will lose � at the hands of shameless, thoughtless anti-war propagandists. Vietnam, anyone?
� M.E.M.
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Copyright � 2001-2007 by M.E. Manning. All material is written by me, unless explicitly stated otherwise by use of footnotes or bylines. Do not copy or redistribute without my permission.
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