QandO

June 28, 2004

What has been right in Iraq
Posted by McQ

Notice I didn't say what is right in Iraq. Instead what's been going right in Iraq all this time and has been woefully under reported. Fred Hiatt of the WaPo does a nice job of making up for a little of that:

What is striking in Iraq, though, is an emphasis on learning from mistakes and moving forward, because there isn't any alternative. This is noteworthy among two groups in particular: Iraqis who have signed on at considerable risk to build a new democratic government, and U.S. soldiers and Marines.

In much of the country, the U.S. military and its allies -- notably but not only Britons and Poles -- provide virtually the only foreign presence, and their resourcefulness and adaptability are impressive. Terrorists have managed to chase away the United Nations, most nonprofit organizations and many for-profit contractors. So the troops not only must fight and kill bad guys but also open vocational schools, manage irrigation projects, rebuild universities, train police and soldiers, mediate ethnic disputes, organize town councils, prepare for elections, and more. All this, while they are stretched thin for their military mission.

Young Army captains spend their evenings in mayors' offices, advising on everything from democracy theory to garbage collection. Slightly older lieutenant colonels organize sheiks' councils. "Every commander in this division has personally run an election," either in Bosnia or Kosovo, says a senior officer in the 1st Infantry Division, now based in Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit. By default, they have become America's nation-builders overseas.

One of the reasons I've always believed those in our military to be the brightest and best is they do this sort of thing ... routinely. Its almost as though they live in a world where "it can't be done" doesn't exist. In fact, from experience, I know they do. They're tough, bright, adaptive and stubborn. If its possible they'll make it happen.

You can't ask for much more. Read the whole article as its a nice break from the doom and gloom the Post usually peddles.

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