Iraq, For All It's Worth

Posted By MJ

For those who think that the election in Iraq is proof of successful Bush policy are, for all pertinent matters, wrong. The January 30 elections in Iraq really have very little to do with any sort of success or for that matter failure, particularly considering Bush policy. Now before I get all these crazy right-wingers calling me liberal and anti-American, just once think for yourselves and analyze the situation in Iraq. The elections have done very little in healing the country and they have done even less in changing the murderous situation on the ground. Since January 30, over 200 Iraqis have been blown up and scores of American soldiers with them. And we still don’t have any results from the elections either, even though we “presumably” know the outcome.

It must be noted that I’m not a late-breaking news sort of blogger. I think this “run with it” era is part of the reason why Iraq is in the condition that it is- the other part is because Bush totally screwed it up. I don’t like to blindly follow anything. As a historian I like to analyze and research and thoughtfully come to my own conclusions. Its not always fun. Sometimes it’s painful. And sometimes it feels like torment to scurry through so much material. I don’t watch a lot of television news. I mostly read, and typically it’s from all different kinds of viewpoints. One of my favorite political analyst and opinion editorial’s is George Will, hardly your Democratic spokesman. And likewise with Iraq, I don’t conclude anything because I don’t like George Bush or because Michael Moore says so, there is middle ground there people trust me.

Bush’s policy in Iraq was to disarm. Sure the spread of democracy was mentioned (mainly in Britain), but disarmament of Iraq was the policy at which we made our case for war to the UN and to the American people. Yes, other countries agreed that Saddam probably had the weapons, and they too were wrong. Bush’s plan was to march on Baghdad, liberate Iraq by removing and disarming it’s dictator and install the infamous Iraqi National Congress with Ahmed Chalabi as the leader. This was all done in order to make the region and the world a safer place by disposing of a tyrant and destroying WMD that could end up in the hands of terrorists such as Bin Laden- a cakewalk that was the plan.

We were to be treated as liberators and greeted in the streets as our soldiers passed out chocolate to Iraqi children. None of that happened. And the WMD did not exist either. So then, what entailed was an occupied country plunging into total chaos with no exit strategy for the occupiers whatsoever. The next step, or Bush policy, or lack thereof, was to promote democracy in a land where it had never bloomed before. Sounded great during his campaign stumps and looked even better on television. The grand plan became the Middle East should be made safe for democracy. Then without securing a single province, Bush pushed for elections.

The key is that the Middle East should be made SAFE for democracy. Iraq is not safe. By rushing the elections, Bush has chosen appearance over security. I will say again, elections are not democracy. Will these elections lead to a democratic Iraq? Maybe, but elections themselves will do nothing to bring about democracy (i.e., Russia, China, Saudi Arabia). These elections have not and will not create security, which is the most important issue facing Iraq today, far more important than any election. And without security there will be no democracy. Also, these elections have proved very little in creating legitimacy for the Sunni people. There was almost no turnout by Sunni’s and the majority of Sunni’s are calling the election illegitimate and imposed by Bush. Furthermore, the elections have caused greater divisions between the Shia and the Sunni populations, and will continue to do so until the Sunni’s feel viably represented in the new Iraq, which is the basis for the rule of the people.

Again, I’m not saying the elections were baseless and represent a failure on the part of Bush. I’m saying that they really haven’t accomplished anything at all, other than finally pushing Bush over that 50% approval rating. To say that the elections are proof that Bush has been right about Iraq all along is to deny the reality that is Iraq. I will agree, however, that these elections are a step in the right direction, even though I feel they were rushed. And if handled properly, which includes realizing that security must be next, many good things will come from it. All this will require even more long term planning, and a much greater comprehension from Bush and his advisors to the current situation in Iraq. All of which are something this administration has failed to demonstrate so far.