Saturday, July 17, 2004
The Iraqi Successes You Haven't Heard
Terence P. Jeffrey
Iraq Sees Brighter Days Ahead
For months, the Times and Post have specialized in taking anything bad that happens in Iraq--no matter how minor--and hyping it as major news.
But on June 30 nothing bad had happened in Iraq. Indeed, there had been a long string of good news:
Al Qaeda-affiliated terrorist Abu Mu-sab al Zarqawi had overplayed his hand in a series of attacks that killed more than 100 Iraqis, thus uniting Iraqis in common cause with the United States against him.
U.S. Ambassador Paul Bremer, surprised the world by handing over sovereignty to Iraq's new independent interim government 48 hours sooner than scheduled. Bremer immediately boarded a plane and departed, leaving the Iraqis to govern themselves.
On June 30, the U.S. gave legal custody of deposed dictator Saddam Hussein to the newly independent Iraq, which promptly showed its resolve to bring him to justice by indicting him for mass murder.
On that day, no Americans were killed in fighting. Terrorists did not manage to murder a single Iraqi. No hostages were beheaded. No one was kidnapped. No new lurid photos could be found.
The Post and the Times were stumped.
The Post buried on page A19 what may have been the most encouraging recent news from Iraq:
A poll of 1,000 Iraqis, conducted in June by an independent polling firm, showed that Iraqis want peace, not war. Most yearn for security and stability above all else and are hopeful their new interim government can deliver it to them. The poll showed:
73% approve of new Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, who says he wants to crush the insurgents and foreign terrorists disturbing the peace of his country.
84% support new President Ghazi Yawar, who shares Allawi's commitment to crushing the insurgents and terrorists.
82% support the U.S.-trained police who will work to enforce the peace.
70% support the newly forming Iraqi army that will track down and kill the insurgents and terrorists.
80% say the new government will "make things better" for Iraq.
These are areas where the U.S. can help an independent Iraq and build trust with the Iraqi people. That may not titillate the editors of the Washington Post and the New York Times.
But it will advance the national security interests of the United States and vindicate the honorable and courageous service so many Americans have given in Iraq in the cause of an American victory.
Terence P. Jeffrey
Iraq Sees Brighter Days Ahead
For months, the Times and Post have specialized in taking anything bad that happens in Iraq--no matter how minor--and hyping it as major news.
But on June 30 nothing bad had happened in Iraq. Indeed, there had been a long string of good news:
Al Qaeda-affiliated terrorist Abu Mu-sab al Zarqawi had overplayed his hand in a series of attacks that killed more than 100 Iraqis, thus uniting Iraqis in common cause with the United States against him.
U.S. Ambassador Paul Bremer, surprised the world by handing over sovereignty to Iraq's new independent interim government 48 hours sooner than scheduled. Bremer immediately boarded a plane and departed, leaving the Iraqis to govern themselves.
On June 30, the U.S. gave legal custody of deposed dictator Saddam Hussein to the newly independent Iraq, which promptly showed its resolve to bring him to justice by indicting him for mass murder.
On that day, no Americans were killed in fighting. Terrorists did not manage to murder a single Iraqi. No hostages were beheaded. No one was kidnapped. No new lurid photos could be found.
The Post and the Times were stumped.
The Post buried on page A19 what may have been the most encouraging recent news from Iraq:
A poll of 1,000 Iraqis, conducted in June by an independent polling firm, showed that Iraqis want peace, not war. Most yearn for security and stability above all else and are hopeful their new interim government can deliver it to them. The poll showed:
73% approve of new Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, who says he wants to crush the insurgents and foreign terrorists disturbing the peace of his country.
84% support new President Ghazi Yawar, who shares Allawi's commitment to crushing the insurgents and terrorists.
82% support the U.S.-trained police who will work to enforce the peace.
70% support the newly forming Iraqi army that will track down and kill the insurgents and terrorists.
80% say the new government will "make things better" for Iraq.
These are areas where the U.S. can help an independent Iraq and build trust with the Iraqi people. That may not titillate the editors of the Washington Post and the New York Times.
But it will advance the national security interests of the United States and vindicate the honorable and courageous service so many Americans have given in Iraq in the cause of an American victory.
