[dude1394]

I cannot add anything to this.

http://blogs.dailymail.com/donsurber...12/04/iraq-dc/

Iraq = D.C.

Having opposed the liberation, the left now demands instant democracy in Iraq.

The left is so vested in defeat in Iraq that they are making ridiculous demands on a nation that is recovering from about 20 years of war (beginning with Iran) and 30 years of tyranny.

Nation building is difficult, which is why the governor of Texas eschewed it in the 2000 presidential debate. Spreading democracy is a vaccine against terrorism, which is why the president embraced nation-building post-9/11.

Bush Derangement Syndrome is the only explanation for the lleft’s flip-flop from its historic embrace of idealism.

Writing in Salon today, Juan Cole trotted out the latest placement of the goalposts by the left: “Appearing on ‘Meet the Press’ on Sunday, Democratic Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia gave some needed perspective on the U.S. troop ’surge’ in Iraq. Webb, a Vietnam veteran and former secretary of the Navy under Ronald Reagan, recently returned from a visit to Iraq. He said that it was inaccurate to attribute the recent reduction in violence entirely to Bush’s troop escalation. Moreover, Webb said that any security improvements in Iraq would only help if accompanied by political progress. He criticized the administration for ‘the failure for the last five years to match the quality of our military performance with robust regional diplomacy’.”

This replaces Harry Reid’s declaration 6 months ago that military success was impossible, the war is lost.

The change in demands from the left shows that we won militarily. Democracy is more difficult to deliver. It takes time and patience. Let us review:

In 1999, Nato troops and U.S. bombers led a 78-day war in Kosovo to rid the region of a brutal dictator, Slobodan Milosevic. 8 years later, talks continue on a final resolution of its status. Russia has threatened to use it UN veto to nix any deal that does not suit Vladimir Putin, who wants to resurrect the Soviet empire.

In Korea, the 3-year war between North and South ended in a cease-fire in 1953. The corrupt government of Syngman Rhee ended in student riots in 1960. A year later, General Park Chung-hee led a military coup and held power until 1979. This gave way to Choi Gyu Ha’s government, followed by a military coup a year later. Direct elections came about in 1989.

In Italy, a black market flourished but the 1st Republic was installed in 1948, roughly 3 years after its liberation. Its first election was marked by violence and U.S. efforts to keep communists from winning — and by Stalin’s efforts to buy the election. Southern West Virginians and Cook County Democrats run clean elections by comparison.

In France, the 4th Republic was installed after the war. It went through 21 changes in prime ministers in 11 years. The 5th Republic came about in 1958.

In Japan, Gen. MacArthur ruled the nation for 7 years. In 1952, its democracy was established.

Now then, 60 years after the war, troops remain in Italy, Japan and Germany, which took 45 years to re-unite.

54 years later, U.S. troops remain in South Korea.

109 years after the Spanish-American War, U.S. troops are in the Philippines. They left momentarily in World War II, ousted by the Japanese.

In none of these nations would anyone suggest that there has been a war. That’s because with the exception of an occasional Baader-Meinhof gang, no one is taking potshots at our soldiers.

Those wars have ended. This one will end soon, when U.S. Army casualties reach zero.

That does not mean there will not be political violence and acts of terrorism.

The left’s demand for instant democracy is laughable.

“In Baghdad, politics are a mess. Critics of Bush’s policy complain that the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a Shiite fundamentalist, has not reached out with sufficient vigor to Sunni Arabs to seek reconciliation. In fact, the situation is far worse than that,” Cole wrote.

Oh? Two months into the fiscal year, Congress has yet to pass a federal budget. Critics of Harry Reid complain that “he has not reached out with sufficient vigor to” Republicans “to seek reconciliation. In fact, the situation is far worse than that.”

Congress mirrors conditions in the Iraqi parliament because of the left’s refusal to accept victory.