Of Victory

So, one of the major reasons we are still sitting in Iraq after nearly five years (!) is because Bush, McCain, et al., insist we cannot leave until we achieve "victory." Let us forget for a moment that nobody has adequately explained what victory is, exactly, and give them the benefit of the doubt: victory = a stable, relatively democratic Iraq where the Sunnis, Shiites, and Kurds all live in harmony. It will be the first democratic state in the region (other than Turkey and Iran, of course.... and Israel but I guess Jews don't count in this "Muslims only" equation.... and Lebanon when Syria is not doing too much meddling.... and Pakistan when the army isn't in charge), a shining beacon to the masses of disenfranchised people, etc.

Now (100 years from now, I should say), oh yeah!, we've achieved victory... will somebody please explain how victory in Iraq is supposed to make America safer? How will a democratic Iraq appease the hundreds of millions of Muslims who just see America as imposing her values on the Muslim world? Despite all the rhetoric, democracy is seen as a Western -- and by no means universal -- ideal. Won't this just be another example? It's not like our troops will be going anywhere anytime after the creation of the glorious Iraqi democracy; ergo, our troops will be seen as propping up a government imposed on the Iraqi people by the West.

Of course, nobody is going to ask McCain or the armchair generals that question...