The Fight in Iraq Is Winnable
Letter printed in The Macon Telegraph, September
21, 2003
Lately news about our progress in Iraq
has contrasted sharply with reports of hope and progress presented
to Congress by Department of Defense representatives - a real disconnect,
Vietnam deja vu. So I went to Iraq last weekend with six other members
of Congress to see for myself.
Our currently stated objectives are to
establish reasonable security and foster the creation of a secular,
representative government with a stable market economy that provides
broad opportunity throughout Iraqi society. Attaining these objectives
in Iraq would inevitably transform the Arab world and immeasurably
increase our future national security.
These objectives are worthy of a fight,
of sacrifice, of more lives and limbs lost now to save thousands,
perhaps tens or hundreds of thousands, in the future.
In Mosul last Monday a colonel in the 101st
Airborne put it to me quite simply: "Sir, this is worth doing."
He's absolutely right so long as we have a reasonable chance of
success at a price that is not too dear.
My trip to Iraq convinced me we have a
reasonable chance to prevail. How? Lots of things would be helpful
- for example, more international help. But two things are critical.
First, Iraqis must take the lead against the guerrillas. They must
step forward and be willing to fight and die to establish a free
and representative society. We can't give them freedom. They have
to take it. We can only help. We will lose without them. They will
lose without us. We will know this is headed in the right direction
as soon as Iraqis start fighting, killing and jailing guerrillas
in large numbers.
The second critical ingredient to success
is our own patience and determination. We must be resolute and it
sure helps to show it. With this in mind, we should quickly approve
the president's request for eighty-seven billion additional dollars.
No one wants to spend such a sum, but our troops in Iraq said over
and over "Money is ammo."
Our troops will be in less danger if the
boo birds hold their tongues, support more funding and wait a bit
longer to see if the Iraqi people will step forward.
Finally, I think we have a problem with
overly pessimistic media coverage that emboldens our enemies, discourages
our potential allies and lessens our resolve. We may need a few
credible Baghdad Bob's to undo the harm done by our media. I'm afraid
it is killing our troops.
There is good news to balance the bad.
American soldiers with their typical "can do" attitude
and ingenuity are engaging in literally thousands upon thousands
of small reconstruction projects working with Iraqi contractors
and citizens.
Through decentralized decisions by unit
commanders, the 101st Airborne Division alone has spent nearly $23
million in just the past few months. This sum goes a very long way
in Iraq.
For example, hundreds upon hundreds of
schools are being renovated, repainted, re-plumbed, and re-roofed.
Imagine the effect on the children and their parents. That's why
money is ammo. It leads to partnerships.
We can win this thing with Iraqis at our
side. And it would be a huge win for both countries. |