[Peace-discuss] This deserves a letter in response -- any takers?

[David Green]

The Daily Illini - Opinions 
Issue: 12/2/05 

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Editorial: Fight to the end
By Daily Illini 

Calls for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq has
gained force in volume and numbers after the 2,000th
casualty. But the installation of a democratically
elected Iraqi government after the Dec. 15 elections,
while undoubtedly a significant step, will not
magically allow Iraq to protect and stabilize itself
without the help of American soldiers.

Iraq has remained the most important political issue
in the United States, even before the March 2003
invasion began, and rightfully so. The lives of about
160,000 men and women who have taken up the noble
cause of protecting and securing the peace and
prosperity of this nation are imperiled every day they
walk through the perilous streets, with the constant
threat of suicide attacks, homemade bombs and gunfire.


But the question about the presence of U.S. troops,
however, was when - not if - they could return. While
some, including prominent members of Congress, have
called for a timetable or even an immediate withdrawal
from Iraq, neither would be appropriate for the
quagmire that has unfolded.

It is hard to argue against criticism that invading
Iraq without a clear plan on how to help it build
itself up after its sinews, muscles and will wilted
under decades of tyrannical rule by Saddam Hussein was
illogical. Much of the rosy-colored projections by the
likes of Donald Rumsfeld, Paul Wolfowitz and other
senior officials proved to be nothing but pipe dreams.
Iraqis never greeted American troops with flowers and
could not pay their own way toward normalization with
its oil. And, the United States, despite repeated
assurances from President George W. Bush, ended up
engaging in nation building.

At the same time, Bush deserves credit for insisting
that the troops stay until an Iraqi government can
exert full control over its territories and protect
itself and its people from violence. 

It was irresponsible for the Bush administration to
invade Iraq lacking any incontrovertible evidence of
the supposed caches of weapons of mass destruction.
And it was irresponsible for the Bush administration
to go to war without a plan to help build a decimated
Iraq back up after removing Saddam from a throne built
with blood and tears.

But what was done cannot be undone, and everything
must be done to make the best out of the current
circumstances. And to simply abandon the Iraqis, many
of whom also have endured sufferings and sacrifices
for what victories - big and small - they have gained,
would be inexcusable. 

Fact of the matter is that the invasion led to a rare
chance of establishing a democratic state governed by
a rule of law in the Middle East, a region which once
shone brightly with intellectual, cultural and
economic brilliance but is now subject to abject
poverty of rights, liberties and freedom. The fruits
of a free society are simply too valuable for them to
be simply hoarded and left to rot in the abyss of
indifference. 

In the long run, there will be mutual harm for both
Iraqis and Americans if the U.S. troops continue to
remain. True reconciliation between the Shiites, the
Sunnis and the Kurds will not begin until the Iraqi
government assumes full control and begins to sort
through the chasms left by decades of bitter conflict.
And at some point, the United States will have to let
the Iraqis find their own way to peace. 

But until the Iraqis can make their will to full
sovereignty a reality, the United States has the
responsibility to remain until they are ready. And
from all indications, that time has not yet come. 


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