Editorial

Dilemma unfolds in Baghdad

Despite all his self-assurances that he’s always done the right thing, President George (Dubya) Bush seems to have backed himself into the corner. He wants members of the United Nations to aid his attempt to bring new life to Iraq. Correction: He wants the member nations’ cash to help fight his war – but keep your ideas to yourself, thank you very much.
Unfortunately, no one was quite that gullible. World leaders have all heard that ‘Trust me’ line once too often, it seems.
But there Bush is, losing members of his army almost daily – at the hand of the people he wants to believe that he’s helping. And he’s in no position to pull out and save face -- or lives.
Last week a team of economic specialists -- on behalf of the World Bank and the United Nations -- estimated it’ll take as much as $55 billion (yes, billion!!) to rebuild the country and transform it into a country that”s ready to be self-sustaining and self-sufficient. Some UN member countries are ready to step up with limited assistance . That is, the European Union might put up $25 million, say some reports, and Canada $200 million. They also suggest Japan is considering offering as much as $1 billion.
But that’s a huge stride from $55 billion. And it does nothing to quell the murders and confrontation that continues today.
Even Iraqis know better than to think the nation that lived on fear of its former leader can become peaceful overnight.
The warring factions will continue. It’s just that now, no one has to worry about Saddam Hussein’s henchmen tracking their every move. They will kill, they will loot, they will do as they please. Heaven help any American soldier that gets in the way.
So here we have a president in trouble, needing to spend billions of dollars if he hopes to keep his dream alive. Perhaps he can convince senators, statesmen and politicians in his own country to support his efforts. But what politician will pledge his country’s cash to help the US follow through with its plan to oust Hussein and bring peace to that country – without any say in how it’s done?
For all the questions that Prime Minister Jean Chretien heard, all the challenges he faced when he refused to join Bush’s campaign in Iraq, we believe his decision to keep this country at home is sounding wiser all the time.
“We are a people not yet suitable for democracy…We need a tight fist over us.”
Those words from a man who waited at a Baghdad morgue to pick up his neighbour’s body. Since Hussein and his henchmen have disappeared from that picture, the warring tribes have taken over the streets. There is no fear that Big Brother is watching every move.
Since Bush declared an end to the major combat in Iraq at the beginning of May, sources say the number of killings has increased 25-fold. In fact, some news reports say that while certain morgues investigated an average 20 firearms deaths per month before Bush’s armies forced Hussein to turn tail, that number jumped to 389 in June and 518 in August. And suspicious deaths jumped from about 250 per month last year to nearly 900 in August.
It’s a frightening scene. Thousands of Iraqis at war with one another and American soldiers caught in the crossfire.
The soldiers are there for one reason while the people they’re trying to help are firing indiscriminately at lifetime enemies, almost oblivious to the men and women who are attempting to offer stability . They appear to be thinking it’s too bad if those pushy Americans don’t know when to duck.
Last week a female soldier became the 314th to die in Iraq and Kuwait since this war began. We pray she will be the last.