Don’t leave the Iraqis in the lurch, President Bush
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By Leo Pugin
Dear President George W. Bush:
I belong to the Finnish minority that felt that your decision to attack Iraq and remove Saddam Hussein from power two years ago was justified. In my opinion, Saddam represented a threat to world peace, and it was absolutely necessary to overthrow him.
I also felt that your European allies, France and Germany, should have supported your aim. I think that Europe forgot too quickly how traumatic an effect the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001 had on you and on the United States.
I respected the overwhelming efficiency with which your armed forces conquered the resistance and stormed into Baghdad, forcing Saddam and his administration underground. I was pleased when Saddam and most of his closest henchmen were either captured or killed.
I continue to regard the Iraq operation as justified, even though no weapons of mass destruction were found in the end. But at the same time, I am increasingly concerned about where the situation in Iraq is currently headed.
Although it is peaceful in most parts of the country, up to dozens of people are killed daily in the restless areas. Iraqi men, women, and children, as well as your troops. In my opinion, the insurgents are allowed to cause far too much disturbance.
Elections will be held in Iraq soon, elections that you deem extremely important for democratic development of the country. I also hope that the elections will go well, but I fear that they will not.
The majority of the Iraqis are surely glad that Saddam was ousted. However, they wish above all for security, and hold your troops responsible for the lack of it.
The lack of security is eating away more and more at the confidence ordinary Iraqis feel toward your country, and that is something worth worrying about. Some have even said that your soldiers have behaved more cruelly than the men of Saddam.
One has heard the opinion that times were better before the occupation among the comments of regular citizens on the streets. And these people were no friends of Saddam.
I implore you, Mr. President, not to let the situation get out of hand. Do not give up, and whatever you do, do not give Saddam’s henchmen and other terrorists any opportunity to return to power. Make sure that your troops do not need to leave Iraq in the same bloody circumstances as they left Vietnam.
If that should happen, the slim chances for peace in the Middle East can once again be forgotten. I am convinced that if Iraq were to succumb to its old path in the hands of the old leaders, it would increase the sense of power felt by extremists in all Islamic societies, and push the entire world into an even worse vicious cycle of terror.
Even though you have made mistakes in your policies, and your arrogance as the leader of the world’s only superpower sometimes annoys even me, I believe more in American values and the American view of democracy than in the values of Saddam or al-Qaeda. I sincerely hope that you will succeed in your task of stabilising Iraq.
I understand that the task is not simple. The situation of an occupying force is always tricky, no matter how noble the aims. However, it is your responsibility, no matter how costly it turns out to be financially as well as politically.
I am reluctant to give you any advice, but I want to express my opinion nevertheless, even though I am only a sergeant in the reserves. Send more troops to Iraq, crush the insurgents, and restore the faith of the Iraqis in a better future. Iraq’s own troops are incapable of doing this, and the fanatical rebels will only take purposeful shows of strength seriously.
Your country possesses the necessary power. Use it and finish the job properly.
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 15.1.2005
LEO PUGIN / Helsingin Sanomat
leo.pugin@hs.fi
