Stay America, but don't turn Iraq into a target
President Bush and the Republicans have been speaking out in favor of American troops remaining in Iraq for as long as it takes the Iraqis to build a self-sustaining "free and democratic" nation. [1, 2, 3]
Since America is already there and unless staying causes more problems than leaving, this seems to be the right position to take. Though the initial invasion may have been a mistake, to leave or threaten to leave before Iraq can effectively govern itself does not make sense. Also, America helping to build a free and prosperous Iraq might serve as a kind of penance for its questionable history in that country with sanctions resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iraqi children (though some blame Saddam Hussein for this) and for the backing of authoritarian regimes in the Middle East throughout the years.
But there's another position that the Republicans and the President appear to be taking that does not seem as right. This position is identifying Iraq as an enemy of apparent terrorist forces. [1, 2, 3] This identification would seem to be setting Iraq up as a target for terrorist acts that should by directed at America instead.
The people of Iraq were not the enemies or targets of these terrorist forces before America's invasion of that country. The terrorist forces may choose to turn Iraq into an enemy for whatever reason, but the Republicans or the Bush Administration should not exacerbate this unfortunate position through inflammatory rhetoric or through other means.
The Iraqis have enough to worry about without having terrorist acts deflected onto them. Their purpose in the war on terror should be as an example of how the people of Iraq and the Middle East can live their lives in a peaceful, democratic society, not as a military ally.
sources:
[1] The White House. Press conference of the President. June 14, 2006.
[2] Congressional Record. 152 Cong Rec H 4024. 109th Congress, 2nd session. June 15, 2006. Message from the Senate (Thomas.gov search page).
(Or copy of "Message from the Senate" at Musicalsandconspiracy.com)
[3] The White House. President's radio address. June 17, 2006.
posted: june 20, 2006, 9:43 pm (new york)
update: june 22, 2006, 9:56 am (new york)
Since America is already there and unless staying causes more problems than leaving, this seems to be the right position to take. Though the initial invasion may have been a mistake, to leave or threaten to leave before Iraq can effectively govern itself does not make sense. Also, America helping to build a free and prosperous Iraq might serve as a kind of penance for its questionable history in that country with sanctions resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iraqi children (though some blame Saddam Hussein for this) and for the backing of authoritarian regimes in the Middle East throughout the years.
But there's another position that the Republicans and the President appear to be taking that does not seem as right. This position is identifying Iraq as an enemy of apparent terrorist forces. [1, 2, 3] This identification would seem to be setting Iraq up as a target for terrorist acts that should by directed at America instead.
The people of Iraq were not the enemies or targets of these terrorist forces before America's invasion of that country. The terrorist forces may choose to turn Iraq into an enemy for whatever reason, but the Republicans or the Bush Administration should not exacerbate this unfortunate position through inflammatory rhetoric or through other means.
The Iraqis have enough to worry about without having terrorist acts deflected onto them. Their purpose in the war on terror should be as an example of how the people of Iraq and the Middle East can live their lives in a peaceful, democratic society, not as a military ally.
sources:
[1] The White House. Press conference of the President. June 14, 2006.
[2] Congressional Record. 152 Cong Rec H 4024. 109th Congress, 2nd session. June 15, 2006. Message from the Senate (Thomas.gov search page).
(Or copy of "Message from the Senate" at Musicalsandconspiracy.com)
[3] The White House. President's radio address. June 17, 2006.
posted: june 20, 2006, 9:43 pm (new york)
update: june 22, 2006, 9:56 am (new york)
posted by eric at 7:54 PM
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