An Iraqi holiday | Napa Valley Register

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An Iraqi holiday

Change to celebrate, but work still to be done

Thursday, July 02, 2009

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Iraq is boisterously celebrated a new national holiday — National Sovereignty Day — to mark the withdrawal of most U.S. troops from its cities this week. Though the observance was orchestrated by the government of Nouri al-Maliki for its own political purposes, there was something real to toast. Two and a half years ago, when fresh American forces deployed across Baghdad, Iraq appeared to be spiraling toward sectarian war and possibly splitting into pieces. Today it is as peaceful and prosperous as it has been in decades, and far freer; violence is down 90 percent from its peak and most of the country's political forces are focused on competing in upcoming democratic elections rather than fighting in the streets.

This extraordinary change represents a major achievement for the United States and its military forces, as well as for Iraq; that there have been no celebrations here is a reflection of the current administration's continuing ambivalence toward a "surge" campaign and a war that President Obama opposed. We'll readily forgive this absence of hosannas: "Mission accomplished" has been declared too many times, prematurely, in Iraq. What's more troubling are the indications that the administration is not devoting sufficient attention to the daunting political, military and diplomatic challenges that remain — and to the danger that everything that has been accomplished in the past several years could come undone.

The threats to Iraq begin with al-Qaida and other extremist groups, which last week killed more than 200 people in high-profile bombings. U.S. military commanders say Iran continues to supply weapons to Shiite militias; al-Qaida recruits continue to pass through Syria. An even bigger worry is northern Iraq, where Kurds and Arabs are locked in a tense standoff over control of oil-rich lands and the city of Kirkuk — and where more than 30 people were killed in a bombing this week.

Both Obama and al-Maliki tend to play down these concerns — but then, both have political motives to do so. Obama wants to stick to the withdrawal timetable that he outlined several months ago and that was an early foundation of his presidential campaign. Al-Maliki wants to appear, ahead of upcoming parliamentary elections, as a strong leader and champion of Iraqi nationalism. Both are consequently inclined to minimize the continuing problems of terrorism and political discord and to take risks in pressing forward with the U.S. drawdown.

Such risks could be lessened by aggressive U.S. efforts to help Iraqis reach political accords in Kirkuk and elsewhere, to minimize meddling by Iran and Syria, and to promote arrangements for the elections that will discourage sectarianism. Al-Maliki ought to be reaching out to Sunni leaders and making sure that those who fought against al-Qaida are given the jobs they were promised. But neither government is following through. The Obama administration is lavishing diplomatic attention and resources on the Israeli-Arab peace process, where there is scant chance of an early breakthrough, while leaving Iraq to a new ambassador with no Middle East experience. If there are to be more days to celebrate in Iraq, this policy of quiet neglect must end.

(This editorial originally appeared in the Washington Post.)

9 comment(s)

Ruff Limblog wrote on Jul 2, 2009 4:59 AM:

" More Washington,DC PR folks 'putting lipstick on a pig' which has been a total waste.

All the USA has gotten for Bush's misbegotten invasion of Iraq has been over 4,300 dead American kids and a $Trillion in debt.

The Iraqis are celebrating that we are getting out and that tells you what they think of Americans occupying their country.

The sooner we close down Bush's Bungle and bring our kids home the better.

~Ruff "

glenroy wrote on Jul 2, 2009 7:08 AM:

" LOL…liberals talking waste is the kettle calling the pot black….

There are 70 to 80 million Muslims living under representative government that had lived under some of the worse tyranny since the stone ages….the cost of that was high. But….consider Saddam today would have restocked his WMD, continued training terrorists by the thousands…it would not have been possible to turn the tides on al Qaeda had Saddam continued to expand logistical support to al Qaeda allies…there is no question he was heading that direction by his and his henchmen’s statements as well as thousands of documents found after his removal.

The revised liberal solution is we should have continued spending ¾ of a trillion annually to contained Saddam while letting him rebuild his WMD stockpiles…. they whine about 1 trillion $ to remove him….while Obama’s projected deficit spending has already exceeded 11 trillion $$.

An irony here is virtually all but a handful of Democrats supported removing Saddam….twice….being the political junkies they are the temptation to undermine proved too much….greatly aided by President Bush’s illusions of grandeur, staying above the debate of his own policies….go figure. I believe had he returned in kind Pelosi’s undermining he very well would have survived politically because until recently Iraq had been won.

Now we watch as Iraq slowly slides backwards into the hands of al Qaeda allies….and liberals have already proven then will lose a war that has been won, if it serves their personal interests….. "

Mr4 wrote on Jul 2, 2009 11:04 AM:

" Well said, glenroy.

It would be sad to see Omama passively allowing the resurgence of al Queda while actively supporting the leftist Honduran leader's attempt to become dictator. "

Sandra wrote on Jul 2, 2009 2:55 PM:

" "Now we watch as Iraq slowly slides backwards into the hands of al Qaeda allies.."
Glenroy, I hope that you are wrong. I worry that you are right.
For those of our military left at the tail end of this, things will only get more dangerous unless Obama steps up.
I was at the Sac. airport early last saturday morning seeing off 8 Air Force airmen and sargents who are heading to Iraq. These men and women all volunteered to go and do various jobs. Many will be in danger, and it will get worse if we do not handle this withdrawl in the right way.
I look at past U.S. policy, and don't we most times drop the ball? How did Bin Laden gain power in Afghanistan? We dropped the ball big time there. And it brings us to where we are today, dealing with much worse in Afghanistan because we were short sighted and foolish. Expedient , and foolish campaign promises do not keep our troops safe. It did not prevent what we saw happen regarding Afghanistan all those years ago...it made it worse. I hope Obama has the forsight to realize repercussions from what he does now will come back to us. They can be positive, or we could have another Afghanistan.
This is very personal for me, and the other people who have family over there.
I do not have the faith I should have that this will turn out well. I hope I am wrong. "

Ruff Limblog wrote on Jul 2, 2009 3:35 PM:

" Leave it to Republicans to look at their pig-in-a-poke and call it bacon.

The 'Withdraw from Iraqi Cities on July 1st' was President Bush's plan, Obama has not changed it a bit.

And still...

Republicans are whining the Obama has to 'step up' and other such nonsense.

By now, nobody really expects to hear Republicans to do anything else.

~Ruff "

Mr4 wrote on Jul 2, 2009 4:10 PM:

" the Obama?

What kind of pedestal are you putting this guy on, Ruff? "

post-it wrote on Jul 2, 2009 4:51 PM:

" either way you look at it, still 130k troops in iraq. "

kevin wrote on Jul 2, 2009 5:08 PM:

" It amazes me that they can't control the borders in Iraq with 130,000 troops any better than we do here with the border to Mexico.

Not enough land mines?

Seems like an easy thing to fix... "

Sandra wrote on Jul 3, 2009 8:27 AM:

" Leave it to Ruff to turn this into a republican/democrat thing.
I would be having the exact same thoughts if Bush was our president. His record at handling things in Iraq was far from stellar, also.
And gee ruff, wasn't "the Obama" supposed to be the answer to all our problems? "

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