Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

COLUMN: Three years in, Iraq isn't much better
By Jake Ramsey
Independent Florida Alligator (U. Florida)
03/21/2006

(U-WIRE) GAINESVILLE, Fla. — With the war in Iraq entering its fourth year, things look grimmer than ever.

Across the country, mosques lie in ruins. Sunnis and Shiites are killing each other at a clip of about 50 a day. The Kurdish North has seceded in all but name. Worst of all, the fledgling Iraqi government is on track to become a full-blown theocracy.

In other words, the administration has botched literally every one of its objectives. Saddam's weapons of mass destruction never materialized. Ditto democracy. As for the issue of human rights, well, you can ask Lynndie England's playthings how that turned out.

Now we're just struggling to maintain order, and the new Iraqi army isn't much help. After three years of training, only one battalion is ready for combat.

Of course, that hasn't stopped the administration from putting on a good show. Operation Swarmer, last week's air assault on Samarra, was touted as the biggest offensive since "Shock and Awe" in 2003.

But, despite the cool name, Swarmer was just a photo op. According to reporters on the scene, U.S. and Iraqi forces met no resistance, captured no insurgents and didn't even fire a shot in anger.

Like the "rescue" of Jessica Lynch from an abandoned hospital, Operation Swarmer was staged from beginning to end. But why?

For one thing, the war is less popular than ever. In a recent poll, only 29 percent approved of President Bush's handling of the situation in Iraq. Republicans are worried, with good reason, that Democrats will ride this discontent to big gains in November.

But if the Iraqi troops somehow learned to stand up on their own - why, then Bush could declare victory and bring our boys home.

And so, the American news-watching public is entertained with a sham offensive against an enemy that isn't there. Granted, the Iraqis looked sharp in their new uniforms. But they're no better trained than they were last year - which is to say, not well trained at all.

I suppose I should be happy. The administration is finally laying the groundwork, however dishonestly, for a withdrawal from Iraq. But I can't shake this nagging feeling of guilt.

We invaded a foreign country, disbanded its army and police and watched as looters ransacked its greatest cultural treasures. Our army presided over the total collapse of Iraq's economy, its power and water systems, and its civil society.

Now the country may break up along religious or ethnic lines if we don't manage our exit carefully. Showing off a phony Iraqi army, declaring victory and then going home just won't cut it. Call me crazy, but I don't trust this administration to do the right thing.

That's why this November I won't vote for any candidate - Democrat or Republican - who doesn't propose an explicit timetable for ending the war.

Relying on vague, secret conditions for an American withdrawal from Iraq (in other words, winging it) will only prolong the violence. If the administration and its supporters in Congress don't realize that, let's hope a good beating at the polls this November will make them see sense.

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