The Laughing Wolf

It Will Get Worse, But It Is Already Better

This morning’s bombing of the U.N. compound in Baghdad is a tragedy, though hardly unexpected. We can and should expect to see this and other bad things happen as several threads in the war on terror come together.

First, it is clear that the invitation to various terrorist organizations to come to Iraq and play has been received. They have indeed brought it on and as a result, many of them have gone on to whatever reward awaits them. This is the same tactic used by troops during the conflict, when challenges were broadcast over loudspeakers and the attackers that were brought out were dispatched by snipers or gun crews well away from the troops, simply writ large.

It escapes many, or is ignored by many with various axes to grind, that by providing a playground for these delightful people, that they are not busy elsewhere and are otherwise distracted from doing other things. The more distracted they are, the easier they are to locate and deal with elsewhere, as recent events in Thailand rather dramatically prove. The more of them who go to Iraq to fight and die, all the better. Yes, it will be hard on the Iraqi people to some extent, but it also provides an opportunity for them.

This opportunity is one to mature, to learn, and to develop a strong dislike for such terrorists. It is a chance for them to work for themselves to identify, turn in, or otherwise deal with the trash. By implication, once they start doing this to the foreigners, it will then become more natural for them to do it within their own ranks, both eliminating the thugs and removing a base of support. They will also grow to appreciate more fully the joys and responsibilities of self-governance.

Second, the behavior and choice of target are not surprising. Much of what is going on is in the mistaken belief that continuing casualties will make the U.S. pull out. These people have seen it happen before time and time again, particularly in the Middle East. They also listen to politicians, from the nine Dem Wraiths seeking the one presidency to others like the congresscritter on Fox this morning yammering on about how we should never have gotten involved in the first place and we need immediately to turn all over to the U.N.

They would love that. They are counting on that. The fact is, the people behind this are very well aware that in Afghanistan as well as other locations, that if any shots are fired near, much less at, UN personnel that the UN will cease operations and withdraw from the area, leaving it to the bad guys.

Exercise for the curious: compare Afghanistan where the U.S. has left the rebuilding largely in the hands of the UN and associated NGOs. Take a look at how much improvement there is in terms of governmental control, improved economy, improved infrastructure, etc. Then take a good look at Iraq and what has been done under the 20-something member coalition.

There is a tremendous difference. There have been significant infrastructure improvements, and not just to those things damaged during the war. Governance is already far ahead, even if behind what many would hope. From medical care to education, there is almost no area that is not already vastly improved.

Far from “the tragedy of the American occupation” that a wonder bliffy from the UN described, the tragedy lies in how long the previous status quo was allowed to continue by the UN. To the best of my knowledge, no one has been fed into a tree chipper under this so-called tragedy.

Therein lies the problem for those still loyal to the old regime or the power they had under said tyranny. They see how much is being done, and how fast. They see the general population improving, learning, growing, and that is a real problem for them. They need an ignorant and unhappy population to be slaves, and they are being robbed of it before their eyes.

Which brings us to the third point. That this is just one more mark of desperation. They are having to attack critical infrastructure and use car bombs not because they are strong or well organized, but because they are weak and rapidly loosing power. Their control over the people, even those previously loyal to them, is slipping. It is taking the use of outside assets to do the job.

This is all good news. Yes, the bombings and loss of life by our soldiers and Iraqi civilians is a tragedy, and we must mourn them. Yet we must not let their deaths be in vain. We will see more desperate acts, and there will be more tragedies to come. The greatest tragedy would be to misread what is happening just as the press and politicians misread Tet all those years ago, and pull out and leave it to the bad guys.

The fact is, they are desperate and what is going on proves that. It proves that they do know the UN, that they have very much misread this president and the current election debates. It is also clear that an awful lot of outsiders have come in to create trouble. This is all good, as we have the chance to show them the difference between the coalition and the UN; the difference between this President and many previous, as well as not to take the bleatings of various politicians too seriously; and, it provides a target rich environment.

We must waste none of this opportunity. There is so much to gain in terms of a free and democratic state in the Middle East, an end to many terrorist and terror networks, and a chance to ensure the safety of all humanity in the process. It truly is worth the price.

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