A Young Democracy: The US and Iraq
The very existence of a young democracy is threatened by a powerful enemy who is determined to bring this nation to its knees. Supporting this fledgling democracy is one of the world’s greatest nations; who sends its mighty naval fleet, ground troops, weapons, and money to fight against their common enemy. The year: 1778. The war: The American Revolution.In 1778, France entered The American Revolutionary War, presumably with the hope that the loss of the American Colonies would weaken Britain. Britain did lose the colonies, but France wasn’t much better for the victory of the United States. While France may have gained a victory against Britain, the war ravaged the nation financially.
And while France provided valuable assistance to the United States, the responsibility for the war, and the majority of the risk and casualties, was that of the United States singularly. France was an ally, but the war belonged to the United States.
Last night, George Bush, President of the United States, used expressions which could make one believe that history was repeating itself. He called Iraq, “an ally of the United States…fighting for its survival”, and a, “young democracy…[that has]…placed its trust in the United States.” Last night, the President of the United States attempted to convince US citizens, and the world, that the year is 1778, that Iraq is the United States, and that the United States is France.
Mr. President, with all due respect, Iraq is not the United States.
I like to think the strength of the United States comes from how it fought for its independence, and has defended that independence ever since. There are ideals that went into the establishment of the US that have dictated the actions of the nation since its foundation. The people of the United States decided to fight for their independence. They carved out their own destiny.
Conversely, the United States made the decision for Iraq to become a democracy. We have tried to force our ideals on Iraq. This attempt has failed. Iraq is its own nation, and must shape its own ideals. While the US was the catalyst for major change in Iraq, the people of Iraq need to determine what those changes will be.
In order for Iraq to form their ideals and establish their government based upon those ideals, the United States must completely turn over the nation to the Iraqi people. The US can play a supporting roll, but the responsibility and risk must belong to the people of Iraq.
Such an establishment of ideals and government in Iraq may require a civil war. If this is the case, let it be. The United States should not forget that such a conflict was required in order to hash out issues that were not solved at its foundation. The US should not fight in this war; it must be between the people of Iraq.
The United States must not make the mistake of investing too much into Iraq. Billions of dollars and thousands of lives have been spent in trying to build Iraq into a nation consistent with the ideals of the United States. You cannot force ideals, no matter how much blood you sacrifice.
Mr. President, let Iraq solve its own problems. Support them as they move forward, but do not attempt to do the moving for them. Bring a large majority of our troops home. Invest in our own nation. It’s time to realize that we have made mistakes. We cannot go back and correct them. We must look forward and make hard decisions to make the best of a very bad situation. We must let Iraq find its own strength through its own conflict. We must stop doing the fighting for them.
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