Saddam Gone. Be Patient: Think of Post-War Germany.

www.netwmd.com ^ | December 14, 2003 | Andrew L. Jaffee

[forty_years]

Saddam was captured this morning. No doubt there's been a sigh of relief in Washington. But most importantly, the majority of Iraqis must be feeling more safe and secure. Is it necessary to remind eveyone of why Iraqis would feel relief in light of Saddam's legacy?

An estimated 300,000 dead Iraqis lay in some 260 mass graves, 40 of which have been confirmed to date. Saddam's rule meant torture chambers, dropping posion gas on civilians, starting an 8-year war with Iran which claimed a million lives, etc.

Imagine if Hitler would've been running around in post-war Germany. Kind of unsettling, no? Saddam's capture is indeed a great step forward in rebuilding Iraq. The U.S.-led coalition has already made great strides in improving the lives or Iraqis in terms of electricity, water systems, sanitation, healthcare, police protection, food, and education. And yet the Left clammors for early withdrawal from Iraq, claiming the U.S. is there to spend "blood for oil."

I assume if they could now turn back the clock to 1945, they'd be clamoring to get us out of Germany. Cut and run in Iraq now? That's crazy. Major hostilities ended there only 8 months ago. Has the Left already forgotten the post-WWII U.S. occupation of Germany? It wasn't exactly easy.

The Heritage Foundation reminds us about post-war Germany: At least 39 U.S. servicemen were killed by the Nazi "Werwolf" resistance movement in the fisrt few months of the occupation. Additionally,

And Werwolves weren’t the only problem. Violent crime, thievery and black-marketing were rampant. Germans incessantly complained to U.S. military officials about inadequate public safety. And these threats paled in comparison to the physical privations. Many feared masses of Germans would freeze or starve to death in the first winter after the war. To suggest that the first year of occupation was anything less than a dreadful, harrowing experience for many Germans is just bad history.

Yes, occupation was a tough business, but long-term it was a great success. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Things will get better if we hang in there and be patient. Leaving early means total disaster.

[finnman69]

http://mcj.bloghorn.com/402

I find it savagely ironic that

(1) people who claimed that Saddam Hussein was no threat to any other countries now think other countries should have a part in his trial,

(2) people who want Iraqis to run their own affairs right now don't want them to run this trial and,

(3) people actually think that the UN should try him for the crimes it consistently refused to do anything about.

[elmer fudd]

Imagine if Hitler would've been running around in post-war Germany

As big a monster as Hitler was I have more respect for him than I ever will for Saddam Hussein. Hitler was evil and so was his cause, but at least he had the courage of his convictions and was willing to die for it. Saddam Hussein was just a criminal who managed to take over a country and terrorize it and it's neighbors for three decades. When it came time to bite the bullet he proved himself a coward.

[Happy2BMe]

"Saddam Gone. Be Patient: Think of Post-War Germany."

I do and it is very similar.

[Happy2BMe]

"When it came time to bite the bullet he proved himself a coward."

Yes, but this will play out as a huge pschycological blow to the esteem of the resistence in Iraq, Palestine, and throughout the middle east.