The story of the weekend, for those who were living under rocks, was that the word inadvertently leaked out that Al Maliki, hailed by many Americans as President Bush's puppet leader of Iraq, actually stated he preferred Obama's exit strategy. This was followed hours later by a recanting.
Of course, it doesn't matter what people say right now. What matters is what happens in the future. Is it really feasible for us to leave Iraq in 16 months? Is there any way to guarantee right now that in 16 months' time everything will be secure enough for us to leave? Is there any way to guarantee that even if it were, Obama or McCain would actually do it? Would there be a re-entry plan, or would we just let the country fall apart if things didn't stay "positive?"
And then, perhaps more importantly, what aboubt the Iraqis? What about what they want? Shouldn't that matter, inasmuch as it's their nation? If they want us out, then, shouldn't we leave? I thought that was the point of our invading - that they would be free to make their own decisions, free from the yoke of Hussein's tyranny. Is it somehow less tyrannical if they are told they don't get what they want (if they want what is contrary to what the President of the US wants) simply because we are a Democracy? We made the bed, but it's up to them to decide when they want to lie in it - that's the essence of freedom.
But that doesn't matter to Americans, at least, not to the Press or the Candidates. What matters is "who's right?" or, more to the point, "who is selling better?" Because people won't remember a year and a half from now what the candidates said. Just like people don't remember McCain's walk through Baghdad last year, or the Keating Five, or Governor Bush's attacks against the Senator in 1999-2000.
For all the rhetoric by those who want to lead the greatest country in the free world, there seems to be little concern for what those to whom we are attempting to sell freedom want. And that's unfortunate.
2 comments:
They're a democracy now, right? Perhaps we should just put to a vote.
___ United States stays in Iraq indefinately.
___ United States pulls out notwithstanding the consequences.
May there be peace tonight in Baghdad.
Well, that does seem like the answer, to ask the Iraqi's what they want, but to a nation of people more loyal to their sect of religion (sorry, couldn't think of what else to call it!) than the freedom of their nation is a problem. Freedom has to be wanted. Bad. I wonder if the Iraqi's really wanted what we forced upon them. It's a no win situation. Leave and there will be another tyrant in control. Don't leave and more people (Iraqi's and Americans alike) die. I don't envy the person who takes over the White House next year but I do hope that it's the one who at least has some kind of exit strategy whether it happens in months or not.
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