So, my CSM column on US policy in Iraq came out today. The lead graf is:
- The US intervention in Iraq, which was earlier sold to the US public as a potential “cakewalk,” has instead turned into a damaging quagmire. The least- bad choice now for President Bush is to hand the administration of Iraq over to the United Nations.
So that just about sums up my argument. But do read the whole thing and post your comments by clicking the ‘Comments’ link at the bottom of this post.
I’ve already received some interesting reactions. At 6:30 this morning, a producer from the C-SPAN morning show, “Washington Journal”, called to ask if I could “appear” on the show– by phone–at 7 a.m. Sure. Why not?
Eloise– the producer– also said she really liked the column (!) and they’d decided to use the question it raised as their “Question of the Day” for listeners. Far as I can figure from checking the C-SPAN website (which actually is an amazing resource with a very well-organized collection of Iraq-related links), the show airs on C-SPAN radio, which seems only to be available in the Washington DC area…
But if you want to call in and vote on the “Question of the Day”, you could maybe try this number (202) 585-3882, which they post as a general call-in number to speak to their guests. (I alas, am not there for you to talk to. Nor have I tried calling that number to see what happens there.)
The next bit of reaction I got came was an email from someone signing himself Tony Deivert. Although it’s a little repetitive and maniacal, I’ll share some of it with y’all. Here’s what Tony had to say:
- Ms. Cobban, noone, I repeat noone [of stature], suggested or reported that the war in Iraq would be a cakewalk. That is a fallacy…
Your editorial piece, I think, replaces fact with what many would call ‘just another piece of illogical rhetoric which is in sync with the mob-chants’.
Actually, as a dumb-farmer, outside Cvil, I would expect your editorial-piece to find nutrients in the local media and certainly on the UVA campus, but it’s a shame that the CSM takes on your ‘faith-based’ writings as if it were learned, informative and factual. Instead it is another excrescence in the media…
I can only suggest, with all due respect, that a narrow view, such as you presented may be biased by the stereotypical mindset — a fabrication without foundation. It’s worth considering in a societal context, which today is fragmented into enclaves and aided in this shame by articles such as yours.
Best regards,
Tony Deivert
I haven’t decided yet whether to write back. What do you think? Maybe I should just send him this link to Ken Adelman’s February 13, 2002 op-ed in The Washington Post, titled simply “Cakewalk in Iraq”. In it, KA, a longtime Rumsfeld confidant and former high DOD official argued explicitly that,
- I believe demolishing Hussein’s military power and liberating Iraq would be a cakewalk. Let me give simple, responsible reasons: (1) It was a cakewalk last time; (2) they’ve become much weaker; (3) we’ve become much stronger; and (4) now we’re playing for keeps.
On another note, last night I had the honor to be at dinner with some old friends including two who are extremely wise and well-informed experts on the situation in Iraq: the very distinguished retired diplomat, David Newsom; and Phebe Marr, who recently capped off a long career as an Iraq specialist by teaching on that and related subjects at the National Defense University.
Well, to cut a long story short, I took the opportunity to bounce the proposal articulated in my column off Phebe, David, and the others. Phebe’s reactions were: (1)from her contacts with UN people, she wasn’t sure they’d be too delighted to take it over, and (2) she wasn’t sure the Iraqis–whose wellbeing is really her main concern at this point– would welcome a lot more outsiders trying to come in and “fix” their country.
Those were interesting reactions, and certainly worth discussing more.
This topic is really important. Please weigh in by sending your comments through the link at the bottom of the post!
One of the challenges, it seems to me, is determining what the majority of *Iraqis* would like to see happen at this point, given everything that has already occurred (and cannot be undone). Is Phebe Marr correct that the United Nations would not necessarily be viewed as an improvement (even assuming that body was willing to replace the US)? Would most Iraqis prefer that everyone just pull out and let them figure out themselves where to go next? Or are there other alternatives that have not been considered? Certainly I am not impressed with what the United States is (and is NOT) accomplishing in Iraq, but I also worry about the ramifications of doing nothing to restablish the rule of law after having destroyed the political infrastructure that existed under Saddam Hussein.
Thanks so much for your sober article on a difficult topic. We are supposed to feel so good about never having to fight a “fair” fight and this “triumph”. I’m dumbfounded.
I appreciate so much your consideration for how the Iraqis might view their own government. It doesn’t even seem to be taken into consideration much given the assimilation of Islamaphobes (Daniel Pipes Franklin Graham) by this administration.
I know I’m in over my head even posting but – how much do you think this Leo Strauss has to do with this seeming sci fi agenda? I tried to read some about him (even on the right wing Frontpage site so as to get whatever might be good) It made my head hurt so I had to stop but the bit I got seemed hierarchical and antiAmerican (a premise of no equality and a fair amount of superiority driving)
Also- I’ve bookmarked your blog- you’ll post anything you hear about the Galloway suit huh?
Your CSM article set me to thinking (dreaming?) today:
I agree that the US administration of Iraq is doomed to failure for reasons given but also because I suspect that the Iraqis are of the attitude: “been there, done that, want no more no how” with respect to occupation.
Iraqi clerics have cooperated amongst themselves; managed peaceful demonstrations by tens of thousands of Iraqis; and attempted to fill the voids created by the unpreparedness of the US occupiers. The clerics are trusted by the people and seem well positioned to facilitate representative rule within Iraq and the creation of a federation to which the Iraqis aspire. The clerics need to be considered as part of the solution rather than as part of the problem.
The UN is understandably reluctant to become involved in this US-created quagmire. Ideally, the UN would administer Iraq in CLOSE cooperation with the Arab League. Theoretically, an involved Arab League could have several postive effects: 1) A major Arab contingent to the peackeeping forces would result in increased security and decreased resistance (and fewer insurgents from outside Iraq). 2)The involvement of neighboring Arab countries in the economic recovery of Iraq would do more for their own economic growth than any trade agreement with the US. Jordan and other Arab countries have already requested contracts in Iraq. There are thousands of potential laborers and managers among the Arab unemployed. 3)As a democratic form of government evolves in Iraq, other Arab countries will also democratize as they learn from their involvement with the Iraqi experience. 4) If the Arab countries are an integral part of the UN-guided Iraqi reconstruction, the spin-off may well be their own self-guided progress to modernity and their development as more equitable partners in a viable peace and exchange with Israel. 5) A Middle East thus rebuilt by its constituents could be a region of stability and prosperity, exporters of a variety of products and resources, and a lucrative market for world trade ripe for globalization.
Unless the Arab League awakens very soon, their region will be redesigned to satisfy the wishes of the US and Israel,and the Arabs will feel further frustration and humiliation. Reconstruction of Iraq is an opportunity for the Arab League to be more than impotent stooges. Maybe I’m dreaming.
Thanks for these great and well-thought-out comments.
Deborah, I think what Pehebe M. was talking about is that the Iraqis she’s in touch with– who are many, as you probably know; her husband, btw, is a charming Iraqi political scientist– was that they strongly feel they don’t need hordes of well-meaning Indians, Ghanaians, etc swarming throughout their country when they are already a very well-educated and technologically sophisticate population. Or at least, they were before 12 years of sanctions started to erode some of that.
I’m not sure (and didn’t probe with PM) whether there’s any kind of racist aspect to that antipathy. Possibly so; but on the other hand she implied they wdn’t be terribly happy w/ swarms of Scandinavians either. (Though that cd be racism, too?)
But I think the essential point she was making is that Iraqis feel their country is NOT East Timor, NOT Namibia, and they really don’t need any kind of nannying tutelage at this point…
Carole– thanks for the points you make. About Leo Strauss, I’ve never read any of his stuff. I have read some articles arguing that he himself wd have been pretty horrified to see the (mis-)use to which many of his ideas have been put by some of his former students.
Judy– hi! It’s great to have you articulate your “dreams”. Please, please keep on doing so. In reaction to this particular dream, I would just point out that it might not be quite as simple as you say for a number of reasons. Including that actually maybe the Iraqis don’t need too much help from elsewhere, plus as far as I know many of them have a fair bit of anger at what they saw as the collusion of many Arab regimes in the 12-year-long sanctions effort. So I don’t know whether there’s a non-regime way it might work out, instead?
You’re quite right about the Iraqi clerics though. Although they still have some internal divisions their general level of organization seems pretty impressive– especially when you consider the horrendous attrition their numbers suffered under SH.
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