More stable in what way? Politically? Regionally? Economically?
How is it more stable?
All three. Obviously.
The Saddam dictatorship had had the region in turmoil for years -- first against Iran, then against Kuwait, and SA surely believed they were next.
Economically, while Iraqis have suffered through hard times, it is clear that commerce is returning to the region and instead of one man (Saddam) benefiting from that commerce the entire country will.
But most importantly, it is more stable in terms of its positioning as a geopolitical force -- not there yet, but surely on the road.
Prior to our invasion, there was no hope for Iraqis to ever play a positive role in the region. You had Saddam as a chronic threat for his neighbors, one which prevented any hope of Americans ever being able to leave the region. And he had two little dictators prepared to follow him in his role as a brutal dictator.
As a democracy, which they are now and will be for the foreseeable future (and which liberals said would never happen), they will serve as a positive influence for the entire region. Do you think it doesn't matter when a bellicose Iranian leadership has a democracy next door, where the Iranian people can clearly see the good things democracy has brought Iraqis? It matters. Now, that may be some years off, but it is surely the most important thing that can happen in the region. Does it matter that Iran, Kuwait and SA no longer have to fear their neighbor's aggression? Of course it does.
So, in all three of the contexts you have mentioned Iraq is more stable EVEN THIS DAY than they were when we arrived there.
Over the coming months the stability is very likely to show further improvement. Today, we have gone longer (10 days now) without an American death in Iraq than at anytime since the war started, and this month will likely end with fewer American casualties than any month since the war started. Had the liberal philosophy of "We've lost, withdraw now" been pursued two years ago, Iraq would be in utter chaos today rather than a positive, hopeful, relatively quiet place. |
