W's Iraq
In a column in today's New York Post, Amir Taheri notes a little noticed fact about today's Iraq that is at once a tribute to my former boss, President Bush, and a rebuke to the "stability first" crowd. As he points out, it turns out that Iraq is the only place safe enough to play host to this year's meeting of the Arab League:
Almost two years ago, the league's secretary-general, Amr Moussa, started looking for a safe place to hold its next summit. This was no easy task, as the "Arab world" was being sucked into an unprecedented political storm....
Believe it or not, by the start of 2011, the only Arab country that appeared safe and stable enough to host the summit was Iraq. Yes, the same Iraq of "quagmire" and "new Vietnam" repute.
But that is not the end of the saga. Now the Gulf states, led by Saudi Arabia, seem bent on derailing the Baghdad summit scheduled for May 10-11.
The stated reason is Iraq's support for the Arab uprising, especially in Bahrain. But the real reason fear that Iraq may claim leadership in a new effort to transform the "Arab World" from a club of despots to an alliance of people-based states.
Iraq, of course, isn't out of the woods; its achievements are challenged daily. But it is the only Arab country where the overwhelming majority accept that change of government should be sought through elections rather than coup d'etat, civil war, revolution or mass murder.
Hmmn. It wasn't that long ago that expert opinion -- including the man who is now President -- had Iraq in the thick of a civil war that would never be resolved, that the surge was a failure, and that introducing democracy to Arabs was destabilizing.
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Jul '10
Re: W's Iraq
You're not wrong Bill. But we should go two-for-two before we celebrate.
Jul '10
Re: W's Iraq
Bill, I hate to rain on your parade. I spent many a long bull session supporting Bush and his efforts against those who considered Iraq a fool's errand. But following the stories over the last year, Iraq is still a very dangerous place to be a native Christian.
I know, I know, little steps. But tell it to the Christian parents trying to raise a family there.
Jul '10
Re: W's Iraq
In that neck of the woods, it doesn't matter what the "overwhelming majority" thinks about governance. The overwhelming majority detested Saddam Hussein, too.
The only reason they're not currently at each others' throats is the U.S. military presence. Let's see how they fare once our troops come home. Or are we doomed to be there forever?
Jan '11
Re: W's Iraq
Taheri is being a bit silly here. First, the 50,000 US troops still in Iraq probably contribute to the country's stability. Second, the Arab League selected Baghdad as the location for the 2011 summit back in March 2010, during last year's summit in Libya, long before there was any widespread unrest, which demonstrates that the recent uprisings have nothing to do with Baghdad's selection as the site. Third, it is a simple fact that Iraqi Shia have voiced support for the Shia-led protests in Bahrain and that this is the stated reason for the GCC's grumblings.
Nov '10
Re: W's Iraq
Your claim intrigued me so I did a quick look online. Initially, this Link seemed to support Taheri's narrative. Further review shows, though, that the news being described may have only been a formal pronouncement and confirmation of Iraq's fitness to host the event.
This Al-Shorfa post dated May 2010 tells the story, including the interesting manner in which Baghdad earned the honor...
"According to current Arab League protocol, Arab capitals host the summits in alphabetical order. Based on this rule, the last summit was supposed to be held in Baghdad, but instead was held in the Libyan city of Sirte because of security concerns.
"After the last summit, a special ministerial committee was formed to propose the necessary measures to ensure Iraq successfully hosts the conference."
In any event, I do marvel at the reality, however ugly it may be, that they are in the position to hold it at all. It is testament to how much the world has changed.
Feb '11
Re: W's Iraq
Sissyphus -- You took the words out of my mouth.
Mar '11
Re: W's Iraq
I was thinking of this when I was reading Claire's post about the Kurds and the upcoming Turkish elections. We're told by the left that our intervention in Iraq was a crusade waged by an evangelical President. Bull hockey. Bush allowed the Kurds and Iraqis to massacre the Chaldean Church. 1500 year old churches went up in smoke. That is my biggest complaint about how we handled the invasion. Now I wonder if the Kurds would destroy Greek Orthodox communities in Turkey if they had the opportunity.
Jun '10
Re: W's Iraq
You see why the 2004 election was the most important election of my lifetime?
Thanks for the post, Bill. I'm with you.