US invasion
Mahmood Elahi, Iris Street, Ottawa, Canada
It must be clear to all, including those like myself who supported the US military invasion of Iraq hoping that Americans would quickly withdraw after toppling Saddam Hussein, that the US occupation of Iraq is at the root of the catastrophe in that country. As for bringing democracy, US President George W. Bush has failed to realise that democracy cannot be imposed on any people by military means. It must grow from within and over a long period of time. His contention that the American occupation of post-war Germany brought democracy is without any basis. Germany was a democracy before the war; the German people themselves elected Hitler. In fact, Hitler was an example how a democratically elected leader could turn against other democracies when it suited him. Instead of bringing democracy, the US occupation has stoked the sectarian conflict in Iraq. The once-dominant Sunni minority hate the Americans because of their ouster from power. The now- dominant Shiite majority, especially the supporters of radical Shiite cleric Moqtada Al Sadr, are hostile because they think the US is not allowing them to impose Shiite Islamic rule. Although the al-Qaeda was not present before the US invasion, terrorists have now joined the war against the Americans in Iraq. As former US Senator and 1972 Democratic candidate for president, George McGovern, so correctly pointed out in Harper's Magazine a year ago: “Iraq has become, since the invasion, the primary recruiting and training ground for terrorists. The longer the American troops remain in Iraq, the more recruits will flood the ranks of those who oppose America not only in Iraq but elsewhere." Or, as James Fearon, professor of political science at Stanford University, recently wrote: "If the US troops stay, there will be an ineffective continuation of what we've already seen, without getting to a peaceful Iraq that could stand alone. If they go, there could be a gradual intensification for power among the Shiites, increasing splits in the army and police ... and tribal leaders fighting al-Qaeda on the Sunni side." However, of the two unattractive alternatives, the continued American military presence is the worse. If the United States continues to occupy Iraq, only more Americans will pay with their lives while sectarian violence will spiral out of control. American military intervention has destroyed Iraq and only the US military withdrawal may bring about some kind of understanding among disparate Iraqi groups. By trying to impose democracy at gunpoint, President George W. Bush has proved to be the worst enemy of democracy in the world at large.
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