I, Warblogger

Given that it is my sense that the majority of my readers hold a different opinion than I do on the war in the Gulf, I've refrained from blogging about how it was going since... uh... since we won. But, I want to offer a few observations.

• Civilian casualties were kept to a minimum;
  
• In most cities, after it was clear that there would be no reprisals from Ba'athists, the Americans were greeted as liberators;
  
• There has not been outrcry from the rest of the Moslem world by and large;
  
• There will likely be democratic elections in Iraq before this time next year;
  
• Evidence of chemcal weapons of mass destruction have been uncovered and we've barely begun to scratch the surface;
  
• Day by day, the curtain is lifted on the 'principled stands' against military engagement taken by France, Germany, and Russian, and we find naked self interest masquerading as peacemaking;
  
• It was over pretty quick;
  
• There have not been any incidents of retaliatory terrorism on U.S. soil.
  

Overall, I think that the U.S., as the foremost superpower in the world, cannot shirk off the responsibility of taking up arms when necessary to protect our interests and to come to the aid of people who are oppressed and besieged through no fault of their own. (Did you see the coverage of Saddam's prison for children, accommodating toddlers up to adolescents, made for offspring of parents who Saddam viewed as enemiex? It had a torture area.) Because of the intervention of Coalition Forces, the world is a slightly better place than it was six months ago. Oh. And North Korea has agreed to come to the table for talks. And there's apparent movement that could reduce the violence in Israel and the Palestinian territories, with principals on both sides agreeing that now that Arafat is no longer in charge, a two-state solution might be best for all involved. Coinky-dink? I think not.

I'm for peace, and the conflict in Iraq may very well usher in peace in Middle East for decades to come.

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