Pressing Iraq

June 28, 2004

The Washington Post's editorial page editor, Fred Hiatt, is just back from Iraq, and offers a view of the press coverage of the war and occupation. Hiatt is careful to tip his hat to Post newsroom colleagues who write the paper's bleak news-page stories, but notes that "To land back in Washington after a few days in Iraq is a jarring experience, and not just because of the 30-degree difference in temperature. Conversation [in D.C.] seems to dwell on measuring failure, apportioning blame, and calculating the effect on American politics and American power. In Iraq, the focus tends to be on what is at stake for Iraq and on how to achieve progress there."

Of course, what is at stake for Iraq is also at stake for Arab liberalism thoughout the region. That's what makes the emergence of a liberal Iraq important to the U.S. and its allies. Unfortunately, Mideast liberalism has almost disappeared from the American rendition of the Iraq story, as has the necessity of liberal and Coalition success.

Comments

|6.28.04 @ 3:15AM|#

Unfortunately, Mideast liberalism has almost disappeared from the American rendition of the Iraq story, as has the necessity of liberal and Coalition success.

You can't unseat Bush if what he does has the perception of having worked. So you might as well do your best to call it a failure at every opportunity before November. Similar to the attitude you might have for the visiting team before the first inning even begins. Somehow your will alone shall prevail, right?

iraqwarwrong|6.28.04 @ 3:41AM|#

I don't see how any of this matters. the Iraq war was wrong from the get-go.

|6.28.04 @ 4:13AM|#

Would that be the war with Iraq that began in 1990, and did not end until Saddam was driven from power last year?

iraqwarwrong|6.28.04 @ 4:41AM|#

no. That was The Gulf War. we're talkinga bout the Iraq War here, stay focused.

|6.28.04 @ 6:17AM|#

Yeah, RC, keep focused on the message when God is speaking.

iraqwarwrong|6.28.04 @ 6:45AM|#

Hey don't blame me, I'm just the messenger. (That the, Iraq war was wrong).

|6.28.04 @ 7:14AM|#

"a liberal Iraq important to the U.S. and its allies"

Why? Is it a given that Arab liberals are pro-US? Or are you defining Arab liberalism by how friendly they are to the US geovernment and its policies?

|6.28.04 @ 10:51AM|#

I don't think the self-criticism in America and the problem solving in Iraq are contrary or disconnected at all.

Admitting you have a problem is the first step towards recovery.

Our problem, and Iraq's, is George W. Bush.