Blind Ambition

In a recent interview, President Bush stated once again that “there’s an unbelievable will (for democracy) and resiliency by the Iraqi people.” While quick to heap praise on the small minority of Iraqis who have valiantly tried to make things better in Iraq, maybe the President should spend more time adapting his policy to better reflect the reality on the ground. He should also stop punishing United States troops by “staying the course” regardless of changing conditions, and unnecessarily putting them in harm’s way so he can hold on to the fantasy that his policy will ultimately be vindicated. What’s clear to nearly everyone except him is that it’s a fantasy that is becoming less and less likely with each passing day.

Maybe he should also start throwing some praise toward the American people and the strong will they’ve demonstrated throughout this war. To paraphrase Senator Durbin, America has spent nearly $400 billion ($2 billion per week) of its treasure in Iraq at the expense of providing security and valuable services to its own citizens. America has deposed of Iraq’s brutal dictator and established a governmental framework that has allowed it to hold democratic elections and ratify a constitution. America has sacrificed nearly 2,700 of its bravest young men and women so that Iraqis might experience freedom. The list goes on and on and at some point, we need to ask ourselves when enough is enough. When will the Iraqis stand up as the President has repeatedly promised, and when will we finally have the fortitude and common sense to step aside and force the Iraqis to assume responsibility for their own security?

A recent Iraqi poll tells us that over 60 percent of Iraqis approve of insurgent attacks on our troops. It also tells us that four out of five Iraqis believe the presence of our troops provokes more violence than it prevents. So, we have precariously placed ourselves in the position of being seen as occupiers by Iraqi citizens and as a security blanket by the Iraqi government. Even though they are divergent perspectives with conflicting opinions, neither bode well for American best interests.

The Iraqi people want us out of their country because they feel we are contributing to the instability and violence they endure every day. To make things worse, they also believe that we’re there for good (three-fourths of Iraqis think we plan to establish permanent military bases in Iraq). On the flip side, the Iraqi government wants us to stay in their country as long as possible. And why shouldn’t they? After all, we’re dumping billions into their country every week and I’m sure they’d much rather have young American men and women die in the name of their “freedom” than to sacrifice their own.

Regardless of how many times the President waves an American flag and yells “stay the course”, we’ve got to know better. To blindly follow his “policy” will only antagonize the Iraqi populace by continuing to perpetuate our perceived role as “occupiers”, and will only provide the Iraqi government with less incentives to stand up on their own. How is either in our best interests?