Raining on the Parade

While watching television late Saturday night and early Sunday morning (I just had to see how the Iraq's elections were progressing - call me crazy if you must), I saw a number of interviews with many people. Some were Iraqi citizens here in the U.S., some were reporters in Iraq, and of course various pundits. There was a lot of enthusiasm and revelry.

Then...... appears Susan Estrich. Basically Susan said she didn't want to rain on the parade, but....... then...... the thunderclouds started rolling in. It seems poor old Susan can't get past the idea that "we went into Iraq for WMD's" and by GOD, we didn't find them. (But even this is not true. When the Senate voted on whether to go to war with Iraq, there was a myriad of reasons given, and that was what they voted on. It was NOT a singular issue upon which they voted.)

So, apparently to Susan, it's only the premise that is important. So lets just say for the sake of argument, that WMD's were the only reason we went into Iraq. Let's also say we found several warehouses full of WMD. What then? First of all, Saddam wasn't going to let us just waltz in there. We would have had to "invade" them just as we did. Was Saddam just going to go peacefully into the night? Never to be seen or heard from again? No. How about his two sons? Were they going to go peacefully into the night? No.

There would still have been a "resistance" when we "invaded". There would still be "resistance" from "insurgents" after our "invasion", just as there has been. How would any of this change the dynamics on the ground that we have experienced and are experiencing today? It wouldn't. There would still be a political leadership vacuum that would need to be addressed just as there has been. (See elections noted above).

If the premise is the ONLY thing that is important in any situation, if premise is that which solely determines right from wrong, if premise is the sole justification for actions to be taken, then what should the police force do in a situation where they raid a house to bust up a drug deal, only to find that there is no drug deal going down; but there is some poor young lady being abused, battered, and forcibly raped? Should they just leave? After all, the premise to enter into the house was drugs, not rape. See ya later lady? Hope your day gets better?

We should all be celebrating the events of Sunday. Whether you agreed or not about going to Iraq, WE ARE THERE NOW. We have had brave men and women give their lives to the cause. The Iraqi's were dancing in the streets. We should all be singing. I feel like singing..... maybe a little tune from Credence Clearwater Revival ....... Who'll Stop the Rain....?

Susan?