Matt Rosenberg has an excellent piece in The Seattle Times on why only Bush can uphold the value of democracy in the Middle East. He’s quite correct in pointing out that the Middle East is in a point of transition – either it embraces modernity and democracy as the people of the Middle East want and deserve, or we see the inevitable collapse of the Arab world with horrendous results – both for them and for us.
Creating a more secure world is essential, though daunting. In a recent issue of Foreign Affairs, Kenneth Pollack not only outlines successes and challenges in Iraq, but the larger implications of how rebuilding the country turns out.
Pollack, a former National Security Council member, says most Iraqis favor the reconstruction; and coalition forces have achieved much, working with them “in their villages and neighborhoods to restore basic services, rebuild schools, restart the economy and create new political institutions.”
Yet Pollack warns the U.S. must still improve security, boost reconstruction staffing across the board, and provide diligent oversight of Iraq’s self-government plans.
“… Iraq could be a stable, prosperous, and pluralist society within a period of 5-15 years … (but) without a strong American role, at least behind the scenes,” a “Lebanon-like chaos” would result and spread throughout the Middle East, Pollack cautions.
Bush has the resolve to drive Iraqi and Middle East democracy forward. Kerry doesn’t. I’m ready to vote right now.
Kerry and the Democrats are so short-sighted that they would easily sell out the Iraqi people for political gain. They would allow Iraq to be maintained by the UN, which would quickly lead to massacres like Srebrenica and the collapse of Iraqi society into sectarian chaos. A million dead Iraqi civilians would be quite possible, not to mention the complete destabilization of the region as a mass flow of refugees crosses into Syria, Iran, and other nations. Such a scenario is simply too horrible to be allowed to come to pass.
Either this problem be solved here and now, or we pay the price in blood later. Eight years of feckless foreign policy killed over 3,000 Americans – another four could kill 3 million. It is not a cost that we can afford.
i think that bush should be in the office agian because all of his wonderful leadership that he lead durrnong September
11th and over all i think that he is a really honest man. and i want him to lead the unites states of america! he has done a wonderful job! good luck!