Invading the right country is also important

Submitted by Aaron (Japan), Oct 18, 2006 at 03:19

I'd like to point out how the invasion of Iraq may have negatively affected the factors highlighted by Mr. Pipes: solidarity, morale, loyalty, and understanding.

Solidarity - With or without WMDs, Iraq did not pose a clear and present danger to the US, let alone a mortal threat. Solidarity is bound to suffer when a massive war is initiated based on muddled and ultimately faulty reasoning.

Morale - Our overestimation of the helpfulness of the liberated Shiites and our underestimation of the tenacity of the overthrown Sunnis led us confidently into a political and military deathtrap that may take a decade to extricate ourselves from.

Loyalty – Bush's hatred of Saddam and the fact that his cabinet already had the experience of invading Iraq were probably more important that any supposed threat posed by Iraq. When the foreign policy of a nation is hijacked by the personal feelings of a small group of people, it's difficult to maintain loyalty – at least to the presidency.

Understanding – Americans' understanding of the battle between Islamism and Western Civilization was dealt a severe blow when Bush decided to invade a secular Arab dictatorship, particularly one that counterbalanced an Islamic dictatorship.

Mr. Pipes' refusal to refute the fundamental premise of the war, that invading Iraq increased America's security, is one of a number of intellectual obstacles that will need to be overcome before Americans can develop a truly lucid understanding of the global conflict with Islamism.

I welcome Mr. Pipes' comments.

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