Give freedom a chance

Submitted by Tom Karras (United States), Sep 14, 2005 at 02:03

Mr Pipes;
My view of the dominant reason for going into and properly finishing the job in Iraq:

The war is with Islamofascism, not Al Quiada as many of your responders understand.
Sympathies for these people run deep throughout the Islamic world and few, if any, Islamic nations will be able root them out if they are appearing to be winning. They appeal to a deeply held vision-of-dominance shared by most of Muslims. In fact, a resurgence of Islam has been underway for some time and most Muslims would like to see their faith in a dominant position. Most will not terrorize to get there but they will celebrate to see victory over the West and America. You let the Islamofascists terrorize with only "police" actions, as we did throughout the 1990's, and growth of the ideology is guaranteed. There is no reason to believe that the fantasy of spontaneous moderation will take place.

Still, there are Muslims who have a different view of Islam and reject Islamofascist ideology. Certainly not a majority but the majority will swing to the side that produces success and brings them a better life. The vision-of-dominanace is not lost but must rely upon persuasion. Butchers of fellow Muslims certainly have a strike against them as well.

After 9/11 it was critical that we help establish a democracy in the Middle East and give those with a modern view a chance. Obviously there are no guarantees of success but if this doesn't work later massive bloodletting or dhiminni status for us seem the likely alternatives.

Change of regimes in Iraq ending with a freer society would give them this chance. We start with a really unpopular dictator and end with liberation of the majority Shiites and a balance with the Kurds and Sunni's. Not a monolithic single "faith" regime but one that of necessity must balance competing interests that is likely to produce a step toward a free society.

If you look beyond the main-stream-media it sure looks like its working. Elections have taken place. The people of Iraq have not risen up against us or significantly joined the Islamofascists. In fact, there is a surprising degree of positive attitudes toward us (though its not a necessary componet of an success). The Iraqi military grows stronger. A reasonable constitution has been written (despite what some people say, I see no guarantee of a theocracy in it), free institutions are developing, and their example is moving other nations in the region.

The price is a war with monstrous butchers, something we would have had to face even if we hadn't gone into Iraq or Afganistan. To claim that the the war in Iraq generated these fanatics ignores the past. The Islamofascist resugence has been with us for more than a generation and none of us are likely to see the end of it.

Finally, the subtext to all this-- what happens if we pull out next Thursday? Nothing good for the democrats in Iraq or the US. Certainly it will not change the hate America tone in Europe, it's been with us a long time and is unlikely to change. It certainly won't reduce the number of terrorist attacks in the US.

I say let's stay until the job is done. Give freedom a chance.

Tom Karras

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