The Legacy

Despite the fact that Saddam Hussein has long been dead, Iraq continuous to suffer from the violence caused by warring ethnic groups, militants, and separatists. Life expectancy surveys in that country simple won’t work. No matter how healthy you are, you might easily end up in a coffin the next day.

While foreigners are in danger of being kidnapped in that side of the world, peacekeepers and locals are facing the daily peril of either being shot or blown away by a bomb. Top Iraqi politicians are not spared of this danger. Just recently, the country’s deputy prime minister, Salam al-Zubaie, escaped an assassination attempt. Investigations revealed that the murder try was an inside job, with one of his aides providing the means by which his boss could be killed.

There’s no need in pointing out that death records are piling up in Iraq. Many say that America started it all. Maybe they’re right. But that doesn’t mean that things can’t be changed. Moves are taking place in Capitol Hill to bring our troops back home. I’m one with those who wish for our soldiers to be spared of the needless killings in Iraq. However, I also wish that our government could do something for that country which we invaded.

Many hated the present administration for what it did in Iraq. It has received rebukes from all over the world. While it has made good its promise that it will establish democracy in Iraq, it failed to assure that the transition would be bloodless. Of course, bloodshed was expected. However, nobody expected that America’s meddling will cost so many lives.

Democracy is a legacy that America wants to leave to the country which it invaded or greatly influenced. Sadly though, it hasn’t learned a bit from what has happened in the past. President Bush should’ve known that no democracy could thrive without peace and order. Installing a democratic government in Iraq won’t solve its problems. In fact, it might just exacerbate it.