With respect to the recent leaked elements of the NIE which suggest that invading Iraq caused more instability in the middle east, I must certainly agree.
Oppressive dictatorships are remarkably stable and well-ordered. Dissent and protests are handled swiftly, decisively, and throroughly; usually involving tanks, poison gas and high-volumes of small arms fire.
On the other hand, representive republics and free-market capitalism are remarkably chaotic and boisterous. People spouting all sorts of things on the radio and TV, printing all sorts of caustic rhetoric in newspapers and on blogs. Protestors marching in the streets, counter-protestors on the other side of the street. People just willy nilly doing what they want, when they want, enjoying life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness without the threat of sudden death or random torture.
Damn us, damn us to HELL for trying to bring that kind of chaos and uncertainty to the stable, predictable, quiet little hamlet known as Iraq.
What. were. we. THINKING??!
Filed under: Random Thoughts, Rants, Religion of Pieces
Great post!
(Small edit suggestion: “… without the threat of sudden death or random torture to keep them in line.” Very small, really — it just seemed to be missing.)
Incidentally, I’ve added this post to my list of all-time favorite posts.
It’s a much better paradise over there now. We really had our act together when it came to the Iraq War.
The Iraqis just love us being there and polls show that they overwhelmingly love us and want us to stay.
It was worth the loss of American life to change one chaotic, hopless scene to another, more dangerous, hopeless and chaotic scene.
Way to go Bush!
Joe,
I don’t know that invading Iraq was the right idea, or even a good idea. What I DO know is that a potentially dangerous life in which you have choices and freedoms is, to our way of thinking, better than a nice, safe padded room where it’s play nice or die in a torture room somewhere.
The actions of terrorists and “insurgents” to undermine those efforts doesn’t change the fundamental essence of this truth.
Forester -
You TALK a good game, but I’m still not on your blogroll.
So all the praise is ringing just a BIT hollow…
[/linkwhoring]
The problem is Steve, that I just do not think life is better for the average Iraqi.
Be it death in a padded cell and rape room…or death on the streets of Baghdad…Iraqis still have a life full of fear.
I am not just sure there was a good trade-off for them or that their lives are any better.