More On Bodyguarding Iraq.
I love Jay Nordlinger’s Impromptus on NRO. His use of the language is impeccable and playful. His insights are almost always spot-on.
And once in while he channels me without even knowing it.
A lot of people were critical of Edmund Morris’s book on Ronald Reagan — including me — but the whole project was justified by one, priceless insight: Reagan spent his life interposing himself between the bully and the innocent. Virtually his entire life was an exercise in standing up to the bully — and protecting people from him.
This, to me, is one of the roles of the United States, and long has been. I refocused on this as the Iraqi elections took place: They could take place only because the U.S. military allowed them to. It protected the innocent from bullies (i.e., terrorists).
Hmm….where might you have heard something mighty similar to this before?
The idea of the United States as bodyguard in Iraq isn’t, I don’t believe, a aprticularly original one, but it’s certainly one I’ve not seen often, if at all. I’m very glad that Mr. Nordlinger is giving it some much-needed attention.
I’m also glad that Fouad Ajami’s running with the same ball at the US News and World Report. The paragraph that really needs attention is this:
It was, of course, the American “regency” in Iraq that protected these courageous people and made the elections possible. It took faith in the power and the discipline of the soldiers of the American-led coalition for Iraqis to brave their way to the polling stations in Basra and Mosul and Kirkuk. From Kirkuk, there came a “warrior note” from Col. Lloyd “Milo” Miles addressed to his 2nd Brigade Combat Team, on the eve of these elections. This commander told his soldiers of a meeting he held with local leaders. One of these leaders had heard a rumor that the U.S.-led forces would be confined to their bases on the day of the elections and that security would be provided by Iraqi military and police units. The man was distraught and demoralized. “I beg of you, you must help us, do not let us walk alone on that day.” We know that the Iraqis did not walk alone on that signal day in their country’s history.
No, they did not. The walked with their bodyguard.
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Category: Our Foreign Policy
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