Losing My Political Faith
OK, I admit it; my confidence is fading. As a committed “Bushie” I have stuck to my guns and not only held to, but trusted, the party line on Iraq. But I think I’m finally running out of ammunition. Or maybe my guns have just jammed. Either way, I’m just not so sure anymore.
Don’t get me wrong…my issue is not with our presence in the country to begin with. I have pretty much accepted that somehow our intelligence was abysmal and our leadership misled. My qualms are not with the past but right here in the present. Despite my best efforts, the daily bombings, kidnappings, deaths, and general gloom that come out of Iraq are beginning to shake my confidence in the overall “plan.” I am having a hard time continuing to convince myself that everything will be all right if we just give it enough time and patience. Time and patience only work with a winning strategy.
Boy, do I hate sounding like a Democrat! But if the shoe fits…. It just seems to me that, after more than three years, we should be seeing more improvements on the ground. I know that there have been political victories, and these are surely to be lauded, but these victories seem to have done little if anything to bring security to the fractious nation. No overall let up in the attacks, no long-term gains, no capable Iraqi military force as promised. Just more “wait and see.”
So, if the status quo is not the answer, what is? There are many suggestions floating around: “withdraw all American troops as soon as possible because their presence is fomenting the insurgent’s aggression;” “allow the nation to split along sectarian lines forming virtually three distinct nations because, after all, they are basically split this way now;” “focus on economic development in order to give young Iraqi men something better to do than join death squads;” some are even saying “add more US troops so the security situation can actually be dealt with sufficiently.” The News Hour has been airing a series giving all these views a fair hearing, and I strongly recommend their coverage; you can check it out at www.pbs.org/newshour.
I’m afraid that no matter your particular take on the situation, there doesn’t seem to be a simple solution. All involve risk. Human nature can’t be predicted mathematically, and it’s hard, even for the experts, to guess with accuracy how both the insurgents and the Iraqi citizens will respond to each proposed course of action.
However, the same uncertainty lies with the “wait and see” approach. And just because it is sometimes easier to change nothing and thereby avoid making a crucial mistake, in the long term, this can be equally disastrous.
My faith is fading; the plan isn’t working and I need to see our leadership address the problem.
I’m waiting.
"I respect faith, but doubt is what gets you an education."
- Wilson Mizner
Don’t get me wrong…my issue is not with our presence in the country to begin with. I have pretty much accepted that somehow our intelligence was abysmal and our leadership misled. My qualms are not with the past but right here in the present. Despite my best efforts, the daily bombings, kidnappings, deaths, and general gloom that come out of Iraq are beginning to shake my confidence in the overall “plan.” I am having a hard time continuing to convince myself that everything will be all right if we just give it enough time and patience. Time and patience only work with a winning strategy.
Boy, do I hate sounding like a Democrat! But if the shoe fits…. It just seems to me that, after more than three years, we should be seeing more improvements on the ground. I know that there have been political victories, and these are surely to be lauded, but these victories seem to have done little if anything to bring security to the fractious nation. No overall let up in the attacks, no long-term gains, no capable Iraqi military force as promised. Just more “wait and see.”
So, if the status quo is not the answer, what is? There are many suggestions floating around: “withdraw all American troops as soon as possible because their presence is fomenting the insurgent’s aggression;” “allow the nation to split along sectarian lines forming virtually three distinct nations because, after all, they are basically split this way now;” “focus on economic development in order to give young Iraqi men something better to do than join death squads;” some are even saying “add more US troops so the security situation can actually be dealt with sufficiently.” The News Hour has been airing a series giving all these views a fair hearing, and I strongly recommend their coverage; you can check it out at www.pbs.org/newshour.
I’m afraid that no matter your particular take on the situation, there doesn’t seem to be a simple solution. All involve risk. Human nature can’t be predicted mathematically, and it’s hard, even for the experts, to guess with accuracy how both the insurgents and the Iraqi citizens will respond to each proposed course of action.
However, the same uncertainty lies with the “wait and see” approach. And just because it is sometimes easier to change nothing and thereby avoid making a crucial mistake, in the long term, this can be equally disastrous.
My faith is fading; the plan isn’t working and I need to see our leadership address the problem.
I’m waiting.
"I respect faith, but doubt is what gets you an education."
- Wilson Mizner
posted by Southworth at 7:50 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home