"The Right Angle"

Heidi Parent

Iraq is Free!

Reflections on Independence Day

by Heidi Parent
07/01/03

As we in America celebrate our Independence Day with parades and picnics, I can't help but grin at the thought of millions of citizens of another country celebrating their independence, many for the first time. And much to the chagrin of the Left, it is thanks to one man that Iraqis are now a free people.

There is a great line in "Apollo 13." Jim Lovell, Tom Hanks' character, says, "From now on we live in a world where man has walked on the moon. And it's not a miracle. We just decided to go."

The same can be said of Saddam Hussein's removal - Iraqis now live in a world no longer ruled by a madman. And it's not a miracle. One man just decided enough is enough.

Bill Clinton could have done it. The evidence against Saddam was there. Heck, George H.W. Bush could have done it. The evidence was there and we were in the neighborhood. But they didn't. For one simple reason - they didn't believe it was worth the effort.

But Clinton and Bush 41 certainly weren't alone in their failure to act. For all their talk of human rights and concern for oppressed people, the liberal pillars of the world - the American Left (largely represented in the Democrat Party), the governments of countries like France and Germany, not to mention the United Nations - showed their true colors when it came to Iraq. For decades evidence of Saddam's atrocities was there, but instead of practicing what they preached they willingly turned a blind eye and allowed Saddam's reign of terror to continue. In fact the sad truth is that if the decision was left up to them, Saddam would still be in charge and Iraqis would still be dying by the thousands at his hand.

Incredibly, even after Saddam was removed with relative ease, the Left hasn't changed their tune. Instead of rejoicing in the fact that freedom was brought to millions, these groups, purportedly in favor of human rights, choose instead to complain and lie. First, about the process - Bush fabricated intelligence about weapons of mass destruction to justify our military action. And second, about the aftermath - Baghdad is now a wild west town, the Iraqi people are living without basic necessities (as if they had them under Saddam), misery is everywhere (as if it wasn't under Saddam), it is going to be really difficult to rebuild Iraq (yeah, but the biggest obstacle - Saddam - has been removed), the Iraqi unemployment rate is high (as if it was nonexistent under Saddam), we have no exit strategy, yada, yada, yada. Talk about raining on a parade. The fact that these groups expressed no concern for these issues when Saddam was in control should speak volumes and prove their true motive. Their concern is only now being expressed because they believe they can make some political hay by pinning these problems on President Bush.

Moreover, there are those whose pessimism leads them to the conclusion that we will ultimately fail. Almost relishing in the thought, James Warren of the Chicago Tribune recently said on "The McLaughlin Group," "I don't think we have the will to be there in the long term."

Perhaps, James. Complaining after only a few months in Iraq certainly shows impatience on the part of you and your ilk. But I disagree with your contention that this belief is representative of the entire country. But even if it was, we have something more important than will; we have a president who will keep us focused on the task at hand. That is why the 2004 election is crucial, and not just to Americans. It is scary to think voters could replace President Bush with someone who doesn't have the vision or the will to see our efforts in Iraq through. Someone who will either pull us out all together, leaving the Iraqis and their land open for the taking by any opportunistic two bit dictator looking to set up shop, or someone who will not dedicate the needed support, ala Bill Clinton in Mogadishu. Or, worse yet, someone who doesn't have the same conviction in fighting the overall War on Terror.

It is no great revelation to say the natural inclination of man is to be free. And that inclination was there for the whole world to see on April 9th, the day Baghdad fell, as many Iraqis breathed freedom's sweet air for the first time. Some of the most vivid images were of Iraqi citizens rejoicing as statues of Saddam Hussein were being brought down throughout the city. One particular image I will always remember was when the head of a Saddam statue was being dragged through the streets of Baghdad. It was being followed by a throng of Iraqis, many hitting it with their shoes, apparently the worst way one Iraqi can disrespect another. I would love to see that head end up in George W. Bush's Presidential museum. President Reagan's museum has a piece of the Berlin Wall, one of the great visuals from his presidency. Bush should have something from April 9th in Baghdad because millions of people have him to thank for their freedom. Of course Bush certainly didn't do it alone; his staff, and most importantly, the troops were the ones that made it happen. But he had the vision to see a world for Iraqis that did not include Saddam Hussein and, more importantly, the guts to make it happen. Even when faced with opposition from the U.N., allies like France and Germany, and many here in America, he didn't give in. Instead, he stood up for what was right and because of that millions of people are now free.

If there was no Winston Churchill, what would Europe look like today? If there was no George W. Bush, what will the world look like tomorrow? How many Jews and Europeans would be alive today if Churchill was in a position to stop Hitler sooner? How many Iraqis would be alive today if the world had a man bold enough to stop Saddam Hussein before George W. Bush came along? The fact is the world is a better place because great men like George W. Bush and Winston Churchill are willing to draw a line in the sand and say no more.

So as I celebrate my freedom on July 4th, I can't help but wonder how Iraqis will celebrate their first Independence Day. However they do, they fact they are able to celebrate at all is something pretty special.

"It is up to us...to work together for progress and humanity so that our grandchildren, when they look back at us, can truly say that we not only preserved the flame of freedom, but cast its warmth and light further than those who came before us."

"Great nations have responsibilities to lead, and we should always be cautious of those who would lower our profile, because they might just wind up lowering our flag."
Ronald Reagan