During the first Democratic presidential debate, one of the candidates said the following: America sacrificed to get rid of Saddam to help the Iraqis, now it's the job of the Iraqis to create a stable country.
I'm sorry, but I have a problem with that statement. Who invited us to destroy the government of a sovereign nation?
Several years ago, just as the insurgency was starting, New York Times journalist Tom Friedman said that we're about to find out if Iraq is the way it is because Saddam was the way he was, or if Saddam was the way he was because Iraq is the way it is. I think we have the answer to that question at this point. Saddam was a homicidal monster, but it's become obvious that an iron hand was the only thing keeping the lid on things in that country. No one is arguing any more that the average Iraqi is better off living under anarchy and civil war than under Saddam.
I agree with Democratic leaders in their strong criticism of the President over the loss of American life and American treasure in this tragedy. But personally, I feel most Democratic leaders are being a little cavalier about the sufferings of innocent Iraqi civilians that has been created by our nation's misadventure. Liberals are supposed to stand up for the dispossessed. Who is more dispossessed than the hundreds of bodies found dumped on Iraqi streets every week? While the loss of American life is tragic, the Iraq war will soon come to an end for America. It will not soon end for the thousands of innocent Iraqi men, women and children who are killed every month, thanks to our nation destroying their government and plunging them into chaos.
Even if you disagreed with the Administration, it was still our government that did this. Although I am pessimistic that Humpty Dumpty can be put back together again, I think we as a nation cannot collectively look ourselves in the mirror unless we make an honest effort to repair the damage we have done.
In saying this, I'm not supporting the Bush Administration; it's their bumbling that has caused this tragedy. But simply pulling out and leaving innocent Iraqis to suffer the consequences would be immoral.
What's the answer to this quandary? Stay tuned for Part 3.
2 comments:
That last paragraph has summarized my feelings perfectly. We shouldn't have gone in the first place, but now that we're there, we have a duty to try making things right.
Let's also remember the 4.5 million Iraqis forced from their homes. It's the world's largest refugee crisis. The USA is doing next to nothing to help.
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