Jens 'n' Frens
Idle thoughts of a relatively libertarian Republican in Cambridge, MA, and whomever he invites. Mostly political.
"A strong conviction that something must be done is the parent of many bad measures." -- Daniel Webster
Wednesday, December 11, 2002 :::
Colby Cosh presents an interesting objection to the build-up against Iraq.
Why are they marching in the streets of Tehran, and not Baghdad? The Iraqi opposition rightly sees no sense in hazarding lives and fortunes needlessly, what with the U.S. perched on the doorstep of deposing Saddam. Unfortunately the war machine seems to be having trouble getting off the doorstep. Have the years of post-Gulf War U.S. policy in the region done anything but keep Saddam in power? Are they keeping him in power now, when a "Vietnamization" of the Iraqi struggle might do the trick at no cost in American blood and treasure? These are questions worth asking.
I think Iraq differs from Iran in crucial ways besides American foreign policy. It's my impression that the culture of fear is better-maintained in Iraq, and I suspect this is a bigger factor than any hope the Iraqis have had for the last dozen years that our troops would be "getting off the doorstep". Still, it's one of the better objections I've seen lately to Bush policy.
