Markos Moulitsas Zúniga (Kos) spins the Iraqi election so well that it qualifies repeating:
| GOTV [get out the vote]: it's why we invaded
by kos Tue Feb 1st, 2005 at 00:24:36 PST So listening to the latest rash of "mission accomplished" talk in the wake of the elections, it's striking how the other side has convinced itself that we have spent $200 billion and over 1,500 US and allied lives so that Iraqis could vote. These people couldn't give a rat's ass about Saudis not voting (in any meaningful fashion), they couldn't care about Uzbekistanis suffering under their own torturing regime, they couldn't care about that great Democratic nation -- Pakistan -- with its military coup-installed dictatorship. Iraq wasn't about WMDs. It wasn't about a torturing, murdering regime (since we've done a great job of giving Iraqis more of the same). It was about GOTV. Anyime a people get to vote, it's a great thing. But voting in and of itself means little. In Iraq, it means that Shiite dominate over the Sunnis is now somewhat institutionalized. It means that Iraqis will bid American troops a fond farewell, and turn to guns when the occupiers stay put. It means that these newly elected individuals will now face a wave of assassinations. It means an Iraqi government too weak to protect the machinery of the Iraqi economy. Miles of oil pipelines cannot be protected. So best case scenario, you have a cold-war detente between Iraq's three main factions, a restless Turkey, a restless Iran, and a restless US occupation, all bundled up in a low-intensity insurgency in the mold of Northern Ireland. (Back in the rose petal days, the neocons were dreaming of an Israel-friendly Chalabi-led Iraqi regime.) Mid-case scenario, we have a Middle Eastern Colombia -- a semi-functioning Democracy under siege from a whole host of paramilitary groups. Lots of assasinations, lots of territory outside effective government control, and a government held hostage to the forces of violence. Worst case, more of the same. 100+ US and allied dead per month (which, incidentally, is approaching the level of casualties suffered by the Soviets during their Afghanistan invasion and occupation). A failed state, breeding ground of future terrorists, and a crucial region destabalized by endless war and religious fanaticism. But since the reason for the invasion was apparently GOTV, then mission accomplished! Or something like that... |
Let's review our reasons for invading Iaq:
- They were behind the 9/11 attack. (Well, oops, no, not really.)
- They have massive stockpiles of Weapons of Mass Destruction. (Where are those darn things?)
- They had the ability and desire to launch an attack on the U.S. in 45 minutes. (Well, no. Maybe in 45 years.)
- They had an evil and cruel dictator needing removal. (So, these days who doesn't?)
- They tortured and murdered thousands of civilians. (Ha! We showed y'all how to do it even better!)
- They have lots of oil. We need lots of oil. (Hmmm, maybe.)
- They need really screwed up elections where people don't know who the candidates are and won't get their food rations unless they turn in a ballot. (Ding! Ding! Ding! Yessirree, we've got the winning answer! Now we can leave pack up our rifles and Humvees and go home.)
Mrs. Jones and Mr. Smith, we are sorry that your sons got blown to smithereens outside Baghdad by a roadside bomb made with explosives we forgot to guard during the invasion. But you understand now that each of your son's lives allowed 5,000 Iraqis to vote, and each vote cost $25,000 in U.S. taxpayers' money. Now, that's American sacrifice! Long live
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