Let Freedom Ring

Just like colonial America, Iraq needs time, patience to become a democracy

Now that Iraq has been liberated by a freedom coalition lead by the United States of America the process of building a democracy to supplant years of tyrannical rule by former despot Saddam Hussein has begun.

Predictably the process has not been pretty. Even as our military forces work to rout out the remnants of Saddam’s brutal regime, and to restore civil order throughout the land, the process of forming a new government has gotten underway.

As they have throughout Operation Iraqi Freedom, the media and America-haters (including those in this country) are claiming the process is being mishandled and the Bush Administration is not up to the task.

The chorus of criticism is coming from the same people who predicted the Mid-East would explode in outrage if coalition forces invaded Iraq. It did not. They then claimed there were not enough “boots on the ground” to win a quick and decisive victory. The victory was both quick and decisive. Having won the war, they now say Mr. Bush cannot “win the peace.”

Again, they are wrong.

Television coverage of the war in Iraq has been the most extensive and immediate of any conflict in the history of mankind. It is important to remember, however, that what we are witnessing is a war and the birth of a democracy. It is not a mini-series, and it doesn’t end neatly at the end of the hour.

A look back at America’s own first tentative steps toward democracy illustrates the difficulties now faced by the Iraqi people.

The thirteen fledgling colonies on America’s Eastern Shore had to endure the devastation of a war fought on their own land before securing their independence. Then, with their few precious resources drained by the war effort, the colonies had the daunting task of forging a new nation.

Keep in mind that each of the 13 colonies was forged by people of differing backgrounds and nationalities, and even for different reasons. Much like the splintered ethnic groups that must now come together in Iraq, the glue that held the newly liberated nation together was a common hatred of a despot – in America’s case King George, III, in Iraq’s case, Saddam Hussein. The despot having been vanquished, common ground became harder to find.

America’s founding fathers came up short in their first attempt at self-government. The Articles of Confederation were a failure. It was not until 1789 that the U.S. Constitution was ratified. That was some 13 years after the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776 declared that the “course of human events” made it necessary to “dissolve the Political Bands” which connected us to England. Even then, the Constitution was an incomplete document, requiring the addition of the Bill of Rights to make it whole.

That gestation period was time well spent. The U.S. Constitution, along with the Bill of Rights and subsequent amendments, has been the bedrock of American democracy, and the most emulated document in the history of the human governmental experience.

Given the fact it took our own country so long to establish a solid foundation for self-governance, why would we expect the newly liberated nation of Iraq to get itself organized in a matter of weeks?

Building democratic government in Iraq is a process that will take years, perhaps even generations. Not only is Iraq also a diverse country, it is one with no experience in representative government and is located in a part of the globe that is hostile to the ideals of democracy. As hard as America and other freedom loving nations work to build a land of liberty in Iraq, others will be working to cause our failure. Bluntly put, they stand to profit more from a re-subjugation of the Iraqi people than from government of, by and for the people.

Patience and hard work are what are called for now. There will be disagreements and disputes – strong ones. There will be lawlessness and fighting. All are problems that must be overcome.

But again, using history as a guide, the allure of freedom is so great that those thirsting for it are capable of surmounting any obstacles placed in their path. The Iraqi people stand at the threshold of a great experiment. Give them time, nurture their effort, and the world’s newest democracy will grow and thrive. Just like that bedraggled group of American colonists did 225 years ago.