Posted on 07/02/2004 12:58:32 AM PDT by Jaysun
The liberals like to say that Iraq is a failure. Some Conservatives say that things aren’t going “as good as we had hoped.” We can’t expect liberals to look at the facts and form honest opinions, but the view from some Conservatives is puzzling. I’ve grown tired of hearing how terrible things are from the liberals, and I’ve grown equally tired of the silence coming from Conservatives in response.
So I ask you, what is it that makes Iraq a failure? What makes Iraq not as “good as we’d hoped?” What makes Iraq anything less than an astounding victory?
Surely one wouldn’t argue that Iraq is sub par on the basis of accomplishments. Since the beginning of the war in March 2003, we’ve vaccinated 3 million children, renovated 2,356 schools, printed and distributed 8.7 million revised math and science textbooks, had generated 4,518 MW of power by October 6 (surpassing the pre-war level of 4,400 MW), put 4.62 trillion new Iraqi dinars into circulation, Captured the former dictator who now stands trial, killed his two sons, helped form and recently present a sovereign nation. Just to name a few. No, it can’t be the accomplishments that has everyone frowning.
Perhaps the military operation itself is the source of your disdain? How so? It took eighteen days for our forces to capture the airport and topple the leadership in Baghdad. Twenty three days later, on April 28, some 300 prominent Iraqis met in Baghdad under US direction to convene a national conference to create an interim government. Three days later, on May 1, major combat operations were declared over by President Bush. It’s worth noting that combat operations and being attacked by terrorist while handing out food and rebuilding schools are two different things. It is factually accurate to call the military operations in Iraq the most successful in the history of the world.
That leaves one other issue. The casualties. Before we dive into the issue of casualties, I’d like to say that I don’t wish to trivialize a single military death. All of the men and women that have died during their service to our country, no matter how their deaths came about, are highly respected and honored. During the first year of Operation Iraqi Freedom there were 600 deaths. There were also 48 deaths during that same time period under Operation Enduring Freedom. The total is then 648 total hostile and no hostile casualties during the first year of combat. 648 sounds like a great number, until you observe the past number of Military deaths. I’ve made the following table to illustrate the number of deaths caused by accidents or illnesses since 1992.
| YEAR | ACCIDENTS | ILLNESSES | TOTAL |
| 1992 | 676 | 252 | 928 |
| 1993 | 632 | 221 | 853 |
| 1994 | 544 | 206 | 750 |
| 1995 | 538 | 174 | 712 |
| 1996 | 527 | 173 | 700 |
| 1997 | 433 | 170 | 603 |
| 1998 | 445 | 168 | 613 |
| 1999 | 436 | 149 | 585 |
| 2000 | 400 | 124 | 524 |
| 2001 | 422 | 175 | 597 |
| 2002 | 538 | 178 | 716 |
I made this table by using information obtained from the Department of Defense. You can access this information and more here. The average number of deaths by accident or illness over the above 10 years is 689 per year. During the first year of combat in Iraq the number of deaths was 648. In short, you’re more likely to die from an accident or an illness in the military than you are from a “quagmire” in Iraq.
I’d like to know what I missed. Is there something else that makes you feel like Iraq is anything less than an astounding success? If so, let me know. If not, do the right thing and set the ignorant among us straight.
/john
Thanks. The facts are so good that they're almost unbelievable. The truth is, everyone considers Iraq a "failure" because that's all they've heard about it.
Great post. Thank you.
The same thing applies to many countries. Exactly one year after 9/11 I was boots on the ground in Korea. The S. Koreans, in general, from what I saw with my own eyes, love Americans. The entire country came to a stop at the moment (one year later) that the twin towers were hit.
A grizzled old Korean (he was 65, and could work circles around my 40 y.o. butt) took me under his wing, hooked me up with his cousins and brothers, and made sure I got a great deal and had a great time.
Now, on the news, I see that S. Korea hates us. Just because some young hotheads protested.
I feel sure that the old man is still hefting sacks of potatoes and guiding GIs to the best spots in town, and making sure they feel at home in a very foreign country.
I ignore the news. I know that S. Korea is a very good ally. I trust that the media is lying about Iraq as well.
/john
Success yes. Astounding success? Let me think about that.
I don't think it is wise to take fools too seriously. I prefer the divine media of absolute truth.
Psalm 37
9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
I would guess that those that can remember the Korean War have a very different view of America then those who merely know of it what their communist professors teach them in college.
On the other hand, it seems that the French of all generations hate us.
The conditions in Iraq are far enough away from Westerners that the situation here can easily be distorted to fit leftist paradigms and ideology. I live in Shiite Iraq and travel quite often. The reactions of people vary greatly but for the most part the Shiites of south central Iraq are friendly and welcome us wherever we go. In areas where there are hostile elements, usually foreign, we are warned well in advance by.... the Iraqis.
The Iraqis are tribalists. There is actually 3 Iraqs: Kurd, Sunni and Shiite. This makes some events over here hard to understand, particularly when most Western journalists are holed up in Baghdad hotels. Comparing the Sunnis of Fallujah to the Shiites in places like Karbala, Najaf and Hillah is like comparing post-WWII German Nazis to Poles. When the media uses the selected opinions of Sunnis up around Baghdad to represent "what the Iraqis think" it is absurd and insulting to everyone but the Sunnis. They are Saddam's people, a minority yet the ones who comprised the Ba'athists and enforced Saddam's Iraq. I suppose it makes sense the media would consider them the essence of Iraq as tyranny is the only legitimate form of government they respect.
The Marxists got traction in France. How can you debate in a language as vague as french? They even have an Academy for French Language to keep the language 'pure'. Anything more complex than 'navarin' is a puzzle.
Socialist turnip pickers. But I love 'em. And won't buy anything french for my kitchen, and my owner supports my position. ;>)
/john
Huh? Are you responding to my tagline?
If Kerry wins the November election the principal characters of the Democratic Party along with their tools in the Left leaning media, the entertainment industry, and some various book authors will end up taking a luxury cruise together shortly afterward. On their cruise ship they'll undoubtedly unveil a banner that would read: "Mission Accomplished!" Though that would be one photo that the Right would never see.
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