Iraqi Freedom Winners and Losers
Charles R. Smith
Saturday, April 26, 2003
Victors and Vanquished
All wars have winners and losers. The war in Iraq is no exception. The winners and losers from Operation Iraqi Freedom have set the standard for the 21st century in war and in peace.
France is a big loser. France lost billions to Saddam Hussein by selling the Iraqi dictator arms on credit. France lost billions in oil contracts and business deals when the Iraqi dictator fell.
France angered the American public with its phony stance at the U.N., bringing on an informal boycott of French goods that has cost Paris many trade dollars. France also lost a major alliance with the United States by putting up such a sham over Iraq. The lost alliance between Paris and Washington will cost France.
Bush administration officials are considering several actions against France including banning French participation in U.S.-sponsored meetings with European allies. Top-level Bush officials, including the deputy national security adviser, the undersecretary of state and staff members from Vice President Dick Cheney, brought up the proposed measures in White House meetings.
Democrat Losers
The Democrats are big losers, having pinned so much political capital on opposing the war in Iraq. Democratic leaders such as Daschle, Kennedy, Kerry and Byrd made such a stink before the war that the entire party soon became one big anti-American protest. The result has moved the party so far to the left that there is little hope of recapturing the House, Senate or the White House.
The anti-war protesters, including Hollywood elitists, are big losers. The war has shown the true face of these groups and groupies. They demonstrated an open desire to incite a riot for peace. The caring, feeling left cared little for tortured Iraqi citizens and felt nothing for the thousands murdered by Saddam Hussein.
The fact is these people just hate America. The fancy demonstrations faded into mass hysteria and a giant love-in feast for regional tyrants such as Kim Jong-il of North Korea.
Dictator Losers
North Korea, Syria and Iran are big losers. These three nations have imposed tyrannical and oppressive governments upon their own citizens. Each has posed significant threats to its neighbors. Now each nation has realized that Washington is no longer available for blackmail. All three should tread carefully in this, the century of America.
The U.N. is a really big loser. Multinationalists and new world order nuts here in America pinned all their hopes on a firm United Nations taking over the world in some form of global government. The Iraq war demonstrated that the U.N. is not a global democracy but instead a global debate society for dictators.
The Iraq war showed that the U.N. is a toothless bureaucracy with little value for liberty or justice. The current League of Nations in New York needs to pay its overdue parking tickets and move to Geneva.
Allied Winners
The coalition is a big winner. Although they might not know it yet, the U.K. and Tony Blair are benefiting from the effort in Iraq. Contracts from Iraq are small potatoes compared to the larger economic and political spin-offs in the entire region.
The other major players in the coalition, such as Spain and Australia, are already recognized as key allies for the U.S. in the 21st century. The benefits of a closer relationship with America and of liberating Iraq are both economic and political for all the allies. Spain is already flexing its newfound political muscle by helping mediate talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
Iraq is a big winner. The Iraqi people have freed themselves of a brutal dictator and are now undertaking the difficult task of turning their nation into a democracy. Iraq will no longer need a massive draft army to threaten its neighbors, and young Iraqi citizens can now seek to better their lives without learning how to use an AK-47.
U.S. Military Wins Big
The U.S. military is a big winner. The "Revolution in Military Affairs" (RMA) theory promoted by Donald Rumsfeld shows clearly that large forces of 20th century foot soldiers are obsolete. Smaller forces of mobile, well-equipped and well-trained soldiers backed by incredible firepower are the future of war fighting.
Network Centric warfare is a big winner. The concept of linking platforms to detect and destroy by using advanced telecommunications and computers paid off over Baghdad. The concept, previously untested in battle, is now the standard by which all future wars will be fought.
Airpower advocates are winners. The USAF demonstrated that long-range bombers are key to success in any modern conflict. In addition, the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier demonstrated that it does not require permission from local nation states to operate.
The Patriot is a big winner. The Patriot PAC-3 missile performed well during the Iraq war, knocking down a dozen long-range missiles. The results underscored the need for President Bush's anti-missile defense. The Patriot success also showed the wisdom in Bush's withdrawal from the obsolete ABM treaty with the non-existent Soviet Union.
Bush Wins
George Bush is a big winner. The liberal left often portrays President Bush as some sort of dummy. The Democrats actually believed this bit of propaganda and, in the end, underestimated the president.
The reality is that President Bush is stupid like a fox. His war to liberate Iraq has set the stage for peace in the troubled Middle East, weakened the Democrat Party, thrown dictators around the world into turmoil, and shown the American public who our real friends are. The multi-level political gambit played by President Bush has shown him to be not only a great statesman but, as well, a poker player par excellence. |
