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A War of Optimism

© lawhawk

Over the last 10 days, we have witnessed a new and unusual war in Iraq. As a noted military historian on CBS Sunday Morning stated, this is the first war being fought by the US in more than 200 years that does not target civilian populations, going against the military thinking for more than 2000 years. Many will point to civilian deaths and casualties and say that the US is targeting civilians.

This is patently untrue as the US is going out of its way to prevent casualties and attack the military and governmental operations of a failed and murderous regime. This is not Sherman's march to Atlanta. Nor is this the aerial bombing of Dresden, Berlin, Tokyo, or other total war concepts. The historian noted that often the bombs dropping on the civilian population only reinforce notions of nationalism and stiffen resolve; not unlike what happened within the US on 9/11.

The methods and means used by the US and its coalition partners is suggesting that it has an optimistic outlook on how events can be shaped for the better after Saddam Hussein's murderous regime is destroyed. It is a clear and unequivocal fact that Iraq sponsors terrorism throughout the Middle East - primarily against Israel, with payments to homicide bombers families in support of their actions.

Those payments add to the destabilization of the Middle East and further inflame the conflict. Cutting off that source of money is just one step towards a peaceful resolution of longstanding conflicts in the region.

Creating a stable post-war Iraq will not be easy, but it requires optimism on the part of the US and its coalition partners to think that it can be done. Attempting to put together a government that will be legitimate before the eyes of Iraqis, who are Iraqis in name only (Kurds Sunnis, and Shi'a) who each have different ideas about governance and who should be in control while dealing with reconciliation and affording proper justice and administration of basic services for all living in Iraq, will not be easy.

It must be done. The US cannot shirk its duties, nor can the US permit those nations that prevented a diplomatic solution from being formulated to have an equal say in how post-war Iraq will be run. France, Germany, Russia, and other opponents to the coalition action should have a say, but it cannot be the final say. Their wavering and downright support for continuing the Iraqi regime in light of the repeated failures of Iraq to comply with UN resolutions severely weakened the existing international organization's ability to confront enemies of the peace and require disarmament without resorting to military action.

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