Friday, November 03, 2006
Pundit RhetIraq: Ralph Peters on the Chance for Democracy in Iraq
Who: Ralph Peters, retired US Army Intelligence Officer
Source: USA Today
Quotes: From opinion article titled, "Last gasps in Iraq"
I supported the removal of Saddam Hussein. I believed that Arabs deserved a chance to build a rule-of-law democracy in the Middle East. Based upon firsthand experience, I was convinced that the Middle East was so politically, socially, morally and intellectually stagnant that we had to risk intervention β or face generations of terrorism and tumult. I still believe that our removal of Hussein was a noble act.
Iraq is failing. No honest observer can conclude otherwise. Even six months ago, there was hope. Now the chances for a democratic, unified Iraq are dwindling fast.
[Blogger's Note: The above reference to six months ago is an interesting one as Mr. Peters penned a series of opinion articles in March 2006 titled, "Dude, Where's My Civil War?", "Iraq, the Untold Truths" and "Myths of Iraq" that painted a positive light on circumstances in Iraq.]
Iraq still deserves one last chance β as long as we don't confuse deadly stubbornness and perseverance. If, at this late hour, Iraqis in decisive numbers prove willing to fight for their own freedom and a constitutional government, we should be willing to remain for a generation. If they continue to revel in fratricidal slaughter, we must leave.
My disillusionment with our Iraq endeavor began last summer, when I was invited to a high-level discussion with administration officials. I went into the meeting with one firm goal, to convince my hosts that they'd better have Plan B in case Iraq continued to disintegrate. I left the session convinced that the administration still didn't have Plan A, only a blur of meandering policies and blind hopes. After more than three years, it was still βAn Evening at the Improv.β
Iraq could have turned out differently. It didn't. And we must be honest about it. We owe that much to our troops. They don't face the mere forfeiture of a few congressional seats but the loss of their lives. Our military is now being employed for political purposes. It's unworthy of our nation.
[Blogger's Note: The last paragraph is an interesting one compared to the following written within another Peter's opinion penned nearly one-year ago titled, "How to Lose a War";
"Forget about our dead soldiers, whose sacrifice is nothing but a political club for Democrats to wave in front of the media. After all, one way to create the kind of disaffection in the ranks that the Dems' leaders yearn to see is to tell our troops on the battlefield that they're risking their lives for nothing, we're throwing the game."]
Source: USA Today
Quotes: From opinion article titled, "Last gasps in Iraq"
I supported the removal of Saddam Hussein. I believed that Arabs deserved a chance to build a rule-of-law democracy in the Middle East. Based upon firsthand experience, I was convinced that the Middle East was so politically, socially, morally and intellectually stagnant that we had to risk intervention β or face generations of terrorism and tumult. I still believe that our removal of Hussein was a noble act.
Iraq is failing. No honest observer can conclude otherwise. Even six months ago, there was hope. Now the chances for a democratic, unified Iraq are dwindling fast.
[Blogger's Note: The above reference to six months ago is an interesting one as Mr. Peters penned a series of opinion articles in March 2006 titled, "Dude, Where's My Civil War?", "Iraq, the Untold Truths" and "Myths of Iraq" that painted a positive light on circumstances in Iraq.]
Iraq still deserves one last chance β as long as we don't confuse deadly stubbornness and perseverance. If, at this late hour, Iraqis in decisive numbers prove willing to fight for their own freedom and a constitutional government, we should be willing to remain for a generation. If they continue to revel in fratricidal slaughter, we must leave.
My disillusionment with our Iraq endeavor began last summer, when I was invited to a high-level discussion with administration officials. I went into the meeting with one firm goal, to convince my hosts that they'd better have Plan B in case Iraq continued to disintegrate. I left the session convinced that the administration still didn't have Plan A, only a blur of meandering policies and blind hopes. After more than three years, it was still βAn Evening at the Improv.β
Iraq could have turned out differently. It didn't. And we must be honest about it. We owe that much to our troops. They don't face the mere forfeiture of a few congressional seats but the loss of their lives. Our military is now being employed for political purposes. It's unworthy of our nation.
[Blogger's Note: The last paragraph is an interesting one compared to the following written within another Peter's opinion penned nearly one-year ago titled, "How to Lose a War";
"Forget about our dead soldiers, whose sacrifice is nothing but a political club for Democrats to wave in front of the media. After all, one way to create the kind of disaffection in the ranks that the Dems' leaders yearn to see is to tell our troops on the battlefield that they're risking their lives for nothing, we're throwing the game."]
