Amir Taheri has interesting commentary in the Arab News today. He explains the situation in Iraq and how the only way we could hose this up would be to lose our will and abandon Iraq to the tender mercies of the UN, which, by the way, John Kerry would most certainly do. He's got bugging out down to a science.
Taheri begins:
What to do about Iraq? This was the question with which I was bombarded during a recent visit to the United States.
The question is based on two assumptions.
The first is that Iraq’s is about to plunge into one of the nightmare scenarios discussed by self-styled experts on the box.
The second is that there is some kind of magic wand that one could wave to transform Iraq into a paradise of freedom and prosperity.
Both assumptions are false.
The nightmare scenarios are often peddled by those who had opposed the war because, for a variety of reasons, did not wish to see an American-led coalition bring down a Third World dictator.
The initial prediction of the doomsayers was that, deprived of its oppressor, Iraq will plunge into civil war. Because that has not happened, the same doomsayers now warn of chaos, and predict a nationwide insurrection against the coalition.
But what is really happening in Iraq?
Is Iraq really plunging into chaos?
Anyone in contact with Iraqi realities would know that the answer is: No.
And ends:
The real question is: Will the US-led coalition keep its end of the bargain. Or will American and British leaders, for reasons of domestic politics, lose their nerves, throw Iraq to the United Nations or some other ineffectual custodian, and sacrifice the strategic goal of a democratic Middle East to tactical electoral considerations?
Yes, Iraq can become another Vietnam; not because of anything that is happening in Iraq, but because the US and its allies, for reasons of domestic politics, might panic into transforming victory into defeat.
(Via the ever-vigilant Cindy.)
Posted by floridacracker at May 7, 2004 06:08 PM