Someone Asked Me What Went Right About the Iraq War

1) The removal of Saddam Hussein and his regime and the accompanying human rights abuses, which resulted in the deaths of 100's of thousands (millions if you count the Iran and Kuwait wars initiated by Saddam). Not to mention those tortured, raped and/or imprisoned, but not killed and those living in fear, etc. Critics will say that we did not have this war because of human rights and they are correct, but it is still the case that the war removed Saddam, and that in itself is a great thing.

2) Freedom of religious expression restored to the Shiites. Critics are concerned of a rise of an intolerant form of religion, and they are right to be concerned, but the Shiites expression of their faith is still to be celebrated. I have hope that Iraq's significant secular background and multi-cultural mix will prevail against religious tyranny.

3) The end of UN sanctions which resulted in the deaths of 10's to 100's of thousands of children. Critics will say that it didn't take a war to end the sanctions, and they are correct, but it is still the case that the war removed Saddam and the sanctions were soon lifted.

4) Democratic steps: The Iraqis were able to choose their leaders. The Shiites have a fair degree of leadership in the country where they are the largest population. The interests of the minority communities are being represented in negotiation and policy results. As I've written previously, I believe the Shiite leadership has shown great promise in not buying into sectarian warfare and in compromising with the Kurds and so on. Critics will complain about the party lists and things, and they have some points, but the fact is that the Iraqi's proudly voted and got a government that reflects their choices.

5) Although the news focuses on death and destruction and loves the visuals of fire and explosions ("if it bleeds, it leads" they say in the news), there are many, many examples of great kindness and cooperation between the US and the Iraqi people.

The insurgency is short-sighted, cruelly violent, highly unpopular, and anti-democratic, and the insurgency accounts for most of the suffering in the post-Saddam era. Without the insurgency, infrastructure would be repaired, revenue from oil would be way up, commerce would blossom, the Iraqi people would see a tremendous increase in quality of life. Even though US mistakes have fed the insurgency, it has no excuse, no moral standing, it provides no hope for the future of Iraq. The majority of Iraqis, with US help, will eventually put down the insurgency and Iraq will blossom beyond your imagination, something it never could have achieved in generations under Saddam and his children. The future will prove that the war went right in spite of all that is/was/has been wrong.