oh really, prime minister al-maliki?
Normally, I don’t blog about the war. I’m sure I mentioned in passing that I don’t approve and (not to say a big “I told you so” to the world) I never thought it was a good idea to engage in a war with Iraq. Sure, some good has come out of it (ding, dong, Saddam is dead). But don’t get me started on all the bad.
There are other bloggers out there that can argue against the war better than I can so I’m not even going to pretend to do a better job. But I was reading something today that really pissed me off and I had to comment.
Quick background: Some U.S. military big wigs and members of congress have been criticizing the new Iraqi government (relatively new, I suppose) because they haven’t met several U.S. imposed benchmarks. Yesterday, the Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki decided to fight back saying, “No one has the right to place timetables on the Iraq government. It was elected by its people. … We care for our people and our constitution and can find friends elsewhere.”
Oh really, Mr. al-Maliki? Is that so? You hear that, Congress? Time to withdraw!
Besides the fact that he is using playground tactics to make his argument (“Well, if you don’t want to be my friend then I’m gonna go and make better and bigger friends than you!”), I would love to see the people of Iraq try to make it without us. Obviously, Mr. al-Maliki doesn't realize that he wouldn't be prime minister if it wasn't for the U.S. I’m all for troop withdrawal and clearly we overstayed our welcome (as of a long time ago). Heck, if the new leader of the new, free Iraq doesn’t want us, then why should we stay there to help them?
And the audacity of saying that Iraq doesn’t need us just proves that he and the Iraqi government have no appreciation (or respect) for all that the U.S. has sacrificed to be there.
8 comments:
Your argument sounds horribly contradictory. You feel we should withdraw from Iraq but you're offended when an Iraqi leader asserts his desire to conduct government in his own way? Why should an Iraqi government show any appreciation for the destruction we've caused in his country, no one should be grateful for that.
"I never thought it was a good idea to engage in a war with Iraq." Me too. And I also never thought it was a good idea to elect Bush (either time).
"There are other bloggers out there that can argue against the war better than I can so I’m not even going to pretend to do a better job." Now where why would anyone think that you were vain after reading that? ;)
"And the audacity of saying that Iraq doesn’t need us just proves that he and the Iraqi government have no appreciation (or respect) for all that the U.S. has sacrificed to be there."
Hard to believe, but I was actually thinking the exact same thing when I heard his about his response to the criticism.
"Anon" apparently doesn't get it. I think all of us want nothing more than the Malaki to "assert the desire to conduct government in his own way" but why does his "own way" have to include American lives and tax dollars?!
If they're using our resources, they have to at least be able to accept criticism. That's the way it goes, my friend (free lunches are pretty rare in most places of the world).
no, no, no, no, no...anon, you misunderstood me...or perhaps i didn't make myself clear. i want us out of iraq. we have no purpose there. but i feel that his remark is disrespectful to the U.S. because he wouldn't even be in power had it not been for our presence. there's a nicer, more tactful way of saying, "get out, we can handle this ourselves now."
and yes, it's unfortunate that many iraqis have lost their lives. that pisses me off too. but it also pisses me off that we're losing a lot of u.s. lives, people who have no choice but to follow the commander-in-chief, a man who (for some reason only known to him) thinks that we still belong in iraq despite voters' support for withdrawal.
heck, i'm all for al-maliki taking charge of his country. that's what he was elected to do. the u.s. can't do anything else to help him at this point and it's time to withdraw.
sunchaser--thank you, thank you, thank YOU! you defended my argument better than i did!
and i was very anti bush for both elections as well.
Amen to both.
Anonymous... talk about playground tactics to get attention, huh?
wow...i didn't mean to cause so much animosity. Of course you'll all defend lizzie--she's your friend so your inputs were appreciated. What I was pointing out was that I didn't think it was fair to be anti everything about the war (including bush) but then defend america "for all its done for Iraq" and dare the Iraqi people to "make it without us." You can't say "we should leave, troop withdrawl is the answer" and then say "I dare the Iraqi people try to make it without us." That is contradictory.
anonymous--i'm sure that wasn't your intention. yes, it's true that the other people who have commented are my friends, but it's also true that their opinions are their own and we just happen to be on the same page on this issue.
honestly, i think that you and i agree on this issue too but you seem to think that we don't.
yes, i never agreed with the war. i support the troops, not the war. the troops are dying to bring democracy to iraq. the iraqi government CANNOT bring about stability (please go to the front page of today's washington post for the story on the report that concluded this). seriously...i dare al-maliki to do this without the help, money, resources that the u.s. has provided. i want our troops home. YES, it's time for him to step up, stabilize his government, and take responsibility for his country.
"YES, it's time for him to step up, stabilize his government, and take responsibility for his country."
Hear, Hear!
And I think that we all agree that Malaki needs to step up (or quit bitching about the criticism). Unless some people think that words don't need to be backed up with action?
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