Pacific News Service > News > Iraq War a Poor Vehicle for the Spread of Democracy

Pacific News Service > News > Iraq War a Poor Vehicle for the Spread of Democracy: "Iraq War a Poor Vehicle for the Spread of Democracy
Commentary, William O. Beeman,
Pacific News Service, Nov 12, 2003
Editor's Note: As the situation in Iraq deteriorates, President Bush has outlined a grand vision for democracy in the Middle East. But the U.S. will have to change tactics quickly if legitimate elected bodies are to rule in Iraq.

The Bush administration is trying to sell the disastrous war in Iraq to the American public as a vehicle for promoting democracy in the Middle East. This approach is misbegotten, especially given the vehicle the United States has chosen to promulgate democratic institutions -- the Iraqi Governing Council.

Iraq's purported weapons of mass destruction, the original reason given by the White House for the war, were never found. The administration was forced to admit that Saddam Hussein had nothing to do with the Sept. 11 tragedy, thus eliminating their second reason. With these linchpins in the official justification for the war removed, the entire logic of the operation collapsed.

Even the mantra, 'The Iraqis are better off without Saddam,' began to fall flat, as U.S. mercenary redevelopers Halliburton and Bechtel proved unable to turn on the power and water and as killings of Iraqi citizens became part of the routine of daily life.

Then the worst disaster of all for the Bush administration occurred: American public support for the war dipped precipitously."