<If you watch/listen to Bush's speeches and Rumsfeld's speeches, we are saying we will get out of Iraq as soon as an Iraqi civilian government is in place, and won't stay one minute longer than that.>
There is a contradiction here. On the one hand, the Administration says that Iraq is going to be turned into a prosperous democracy, a showcase for Americanization, and the launching pad to knock over the rest of the Middle East dominoes. This implies a long-term commitment, many years and many dollars. If they are serious about NationBuilding.
On the other hand, we are going to "preserve Iraqi sovereignty", turn the country over to Iraqis quickly, and get our soldiers out as soon as possible. If they are un-serious about NationBuilding.
It's one or the other; these are mutually contradictory futures. Statements like "we won't stay one minute longer than that" have nil content, tells us nothing. Does that mean 40 days or 40 years?
If the policy statements of the AEI are a guide to the Administration's real plans, those plans are indistinguishable from colonialism. We'll dress it up pretty, make all the ritual denials, hide the mailed fist under a velvet glove, but it will fool no one. At least, nobody in the Arab world. It'll fool lots of Americans, who don't like that self-image. |
