If you judge Iraq by the media reports and Democrat speeches over the last three years, then you'll "know" it's been nothing but a series of major disasters of Biblical proportions. The negative, anti-war spin began as the first Coalition soldier crossed the border, with cries of "quagmire" during the first sandstorm, amid predictions of tens of thousands of American deaths and millions of Iraqi refugees. Even when it's necessary to report positive events, they're couched in negative terms and surrounded by warnings of failure... and, of course, the daily death count. The latest panic is an anticipated civil war... but at least the use of the term means the media has accepted Iraq's government as legitimate. There's always a silver lining.
The faulty disaster predictions always seem to be forgotten after a few days, and the news agencies go on to report the next approaching disaster with credibility undamaged. According to nearly every reporter, left-wing pundit and Democratic politician, Iraq has been teetering on the edge of disaster since we interfered with Saddam, under whose rule Iraq was apparently pleasant and peaceful (if you don't mind secret police, torture chambers, rape rooms and mass graves). Civil war, ruined economy, hateful people, demoralised troops, Vietnam, Vietnam, Vietnam. Members of the mainstream media have worked hard to fix that image in your mind.
Only... other, more hopeful points of view keep leaking out: from the troops, from a few journalists, from the Iraqis themselves. For every problem upon which the media hounds choose to dwell, there are dozens of positive events that fall by the wayside. To some, merely mentioning anything positive in connection with Iraq means ignoring the problems. Those problems, as everyone who's spent time in Iraq (outside the Green Zone hotels) has said, are simply not the entire story. In fact, things in Iraq are going fairly well, on the whole. But perspective has never been the Liberal strong suit.
In the three years since Saddam was removed from power, the Iraqis have held two democratic elections with turnout greater than most American elections. They've elected a government that represents all segments of the population. They've written and ratified a constitution that lays out the mechanism for representative government, emphasises the rule of law, and guarantees protection for women and minorities. Men and women keep lining up to join the Iraqi police and military. Coalition forces and Iraqis have built or rebuilt schools, hospitals, roads, power plants and sewage lines. The marshlands nearly destroyed by Saddam are coming back. The Iraqi economy is growing, as evidenced by the burden newly-purchased consumer goods have placed on the electric grid. They can't generate power fast enough to meet the new demand. Few people expected Iraq to have come as far as it has, with as little loss of life, in so short a time. You're probably so conditioned by the media to expect bad news that at this point, you're automatically saying, "But what about...?"
The media -- the self-appointed gatekeepers of information -- decided that good news isn't really worth reporting. They belabor the negative to boost ratings and bolster their sense of having "done something." Those who call themselves "progressives" are the least interested in discussing real-world progress, almost preferring that the Middle East remains a cesspool and Iraq had remained under the brutal rule of Saddam Hussein.
The mainstream media's constant focus on the difficulties in Iraq drives the answers to the left-weighted polls they run. Some Democratic politicians cynically present everything in a way that will damage President Bush and increase calls to leave Iraq. Others, worried by those poll results, shift their positions accordingly, or move to sieze what they see as a chance to regain power. The terrorists are using our own media to drive our politics in their favor.
Of course there are serious problems, which the media are always eager to report. There's never been a problem-free war. Explosions and tragedy make good copy -- "if it bleeds, it leads." Terrorists and leftover Saddam adherents stage spectacular attacks almost daily, mostly aimed at innocent Iraqis. They set out roadside bombs for trucks and military vehicles. Make no mistake: things are tough in Iraq. So, when the going gets tough, the tough run home, right? Well... maybe not.
As much as the nihilists on the Left want to surrender Iraq to the thugs and killers that grab the headlines with violent acts, that would be the worst mistake we could ever make. The US would forever lose credibility among allies and embolden our enemies. The only chance of getting us to pull out of Iraq too soon is to demoralise the American people and make us want to give up. So they lie about the reasons for removing Saddam, ignore any good news, exaggerate the problems, and mutter darkly about how Iraq is just like Vietnam. Perhaps it is... but for the terrorists, who continue to pour men and money into a country where most of the people reject what they offer, and even their allies are beginning to turn on them.
The only credible Vietnam parallel is this: the greatest danger of losing comes from our own loss of nerve. The terrorists and Ba'athist leftovers are becoming more desperate as they see the Iraqis rejecting them in favor of hope. The Sunni who hid them and helped them are giving up and joining the political process. The grand attempts to start a civil war between Shi'a and Sunni aren't working so far, despite the hysterical media speculation. The Iraqi military has retained its cohesion and religious leaders on both sides have called for peace. It's ironic that the attacks meant to drive Iraq into violence may be pushing the country towards unity.
Iraq remains a dangerous place, but there is much to be proud of. The Iraqis are beginning to recover from three decades of tyranny, and that's long, hard work. However, things will likely continue to improve in Iraq unless we turn our backs on it.
