Paul Wolfowitz: Terror Is Losing

The New York Post ^ | March 19, 2003 | PPaul Wolfowitz

[quidnunc]

After the horrific March 2 bombing that killed 170 at Shi'a shrines in Baghdad and Karbala, one Iraqi had an answer for those in the West who wonder if such tactics can work. His words speak to the horror of the events in Spain last week and in Baghdad on Wednesday.

His name is Ali and his Web log said this about the terrorists and their allies: "They are spitting in the face of the wind."

One of the interesting developments in post-Saddam Iraq is the appearance of amateur Web sites, where Iraqis are taking advantage of modern technology to give voice to their newfound freedom. One such site shows Iraqi women demonstrating against Resolution 137, passed by the Iraqi Governing Council, which threatened women's rights.

These women — who were exercising their right of free speech to demonstrate for women's rights — were dressed in very conservative Muslim fashion. Yet, as one of them put it: "We didn't wait all these years without the most basic rights to be denied them now."

An Arab reporter asked if she were Sunni or Shi'a. She snapped: "I'm an Iraqi citizen first and foremost, and I refuse to be asked such a question."

In increasing numbers, likeminded Iraqi women — and men — are making it clear they expect basic rights. People are listening. Not only did this pressure force the repeal of Resolution 137, but, when the new Iraqi interim constitution was signed March 8, it contained assurances of equal rights — and substantial representation — for women.

It also provides for other fundamental pillars of true democracy, including separation of powers and an independent judiciary, rule of law, fundamental civil rights and civilian control of the military. That's a significant step forward that came from heated and healthy political debate — debate that would have been impossible a year ago.

While such debates do show that Iraqis disagree among themselves, they demonstrate — more importantly — that Iraqis can debate those issues openly and democratically. Significantly, in a recent opinion poll of Iraqis, 56 percent said things were going better today than a year ago; 71 percent said they thought they would be better off a year from now.

-snip-

[Mr. Mojo]

These women, who were exercising their right of free speech ............. as one of them put it: "We didn't wait all these years without the most basic rights to be denied them now."

All these years without basic rights? Wait just a minute here...... Didn't Hillary C. tell us a couple weeks ago that Iraqi women enjoyed far more rights under the Ba'athists than they currently do?

[beckett]

Wolfowitz was on the PBS Newshour last night and he gave a perfect defense of the administration, not one word put wrong. He has a clear orderly mind. I really admire the guy.

[lainde]

And that's why he is so demonized by the left. Perle, Pipes, Cheney, Rumsfeld have a stellar clarity of thought they find particularly infuriating.