Iraqis are grateful to U.S. for liberation, but fear for their safety

It is time to wake up to reality about Iraq.

Time is running out, as Congress acts stupidly in the interest of self-serving political correctness. The reality of Iraq is neither the distorted view of politicians trying to stay in office, nor what’s seen and heard on major news-sellers.

Pundits and “experts” shape news to convince Americans the war in Iraq is lost. This is far from the truth.

What’s lost is the American politicians’ will to confront adversity, and muster the perseverance needed to finish the job. They now use terms like “secular fighting” and “civil war” as excuses why we cannot, and should not, do this.

If one talks to the average Iraqi, as I have, away from news cameras, the usual response is effectively a warm, “Thank you for the freedom and hope you have given us,” followed by concerns for peace and personal safety, so they can get on with their lives. Iraqis have deep gratitude for the progress made, but deep concern about the unrest.

Commerce cannot thrive, and parents will not send children to school or for groceries, without peace in the streets. I’ve seen it first hand, through my support work for the Department of Defense in the region since 1996.

The fighting in Iraq is not totally secular, as elected officials and “experts” maintain. True, there are small contributions to the unrest from secularism, but it’s agitated by those who need unrest to cover their daily deeds.

What is behind the fighting in Iraq is the will of militant Islamic fundamentalists gone bad.

One prominent example I’ve seen is the warped Ayman al-Zawahiri, an Egyptian-born Islamic fundamentalist who convinced Osama bin Laden that Allah condones killing fellow Muslims in efforts to eradicate Westerners. The Quran doesn’t endorse this doctrine; it is a tactic of terrorism that fundamentalists have adopted.

Islamic fundamentalists desperately wish to preserve their ability to use terrorism to force others to abide by their distorted idea of Quranic doctrine, and will fight to the end to preserve a “safe house” for their global operations.

As long as Iraq can be terrorized into an unsettled state, an unsettled Iraq provides a haven for terrorists. It is nearly impossible to find and prosecute them amid this unrest. An unsettled Iraq has the potential for weapons smuggling/appropriation, theft and even manufacturing.

An unsettled Iraq allows Iran to use the country as cover, letting it continue to pour huge amounts of money, men and materials to support terrorist efforts. An unsettled Iraq provides excellent cover for terrorist groups to train, plan and carry out all sorts of dastardly deeds, not only against Western interests, but also against peaceful Arab states like Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and United Arab Emirates.

An unsettled Iraq will be a launching pad for international terrorism.

Consider how long it took the United States to settle after the American Revolution. Why, after only a few short years, do we think Iraq should be democratized and pursuing the goals of a free enterprise, a fair judicial system, and a government run by the will of the people?

Instant gratification is one excuse, but the reality is it will take longer. As the underwriter of their success, America needs to be supportive of Iraqi efforts. It is time to abandon political correctness and exhibit grit for the not-so-pleasant tasks that lie ahead in the Middle East along with integrity and substance to deal with criticism from those lacking the vision needed to go forward.

I have issues with the way the war has been managed, but we all make mistakes, and the complexity of this issue creates an environment for inappropriate decisions. I think President Bush has made mistakes along the way; I think former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld was weak; I think retired Gen. John Abizaid, the former commander of military operations in Iraq, will be compared to Gen. William Westmoreland in the history of the Vietnam War. I am happy to see him out of the command structure.

The U.S. went into Baghdad with the naive thought Iraqis would run toward us with open arms upon entering Baghdad. The former regime’s entrenched mentality, and its impact on the citizenry, wasn’t considered. There were years of conditioning the U.S. incorrectly expected to reverse instantaneously.

If Congress passes illogical legislation that telegraphs to insurgents, “We are leaving October 2007 (or whatever date is selected) and it’s all yours after that,” it will be a death warrant for untold numbers of troops and Iraqis. This also sends a clear message to the region the U.S. is insincere in its commitments, and that they – Iran in particular – can run amok.

If we turn tail now, and abandon the Iraqis and others, it’s only a matter of time before the impact of our inaction will be felt globally and without recourse.

Robert Freihoff-Lewin has spent the past 10 years working for the U.S military in the Middle East as a private contractor. He lives in Western Maine.