Kevin D. Korenthal, March 24, 2004

Criticism has abounded on the issue of Iraq. Democrats and Republicans alike (myself included but don’t tell the leftists) have been wringing their hands, some silently, some not so silently, over the continued insecurity in Iraq. Visions of Vietnam dance in some heads.

But tonight the president delivered the message so many of us have been waiting for. The president, with gobs of make-up to hide the mountain biking wounds he suffered over the weekend, stepped confidently to the microphone and revealed the "exit plan" for Iraq. The foreign policy speech was given at the Army War College in Washington DC.

Explaining the violent element our soldiers face Bush said,

The swift removal of Saddam Hussein's regime last spring had an unintended affect. Instead of being killed or captured on the battlefield, some of Saddam's elite guards shed their uniforms and melted into the civilian population.

These elements of Saddam's repressive regime and secret police have reorganized, rearmed and adopted sophisticated terrorist tactics. They've linked up with foreign fighters and terrorists. In a few cities, extremists have tried to sow chaos and seize regional power for themselves.

These groups and individuals have conflicting ambitions, but they share a goal. They hope to wear out the patience of Americans, our coalition and Iraqis before the arrival of effective self-government and before Iraqis have the capability to defend their freedom.

It is necessary that we understand the nature of the enemy we face. There is now no doubt that the president understands the enemy. He can not be, as some liberals opine, "stupid" and still be able to not only know the enemy we face but be able to communicate that knowledge in such a direct and detailed way. President Bush also identifies the delicate balancing act that our troops, the coalition, and the Iraqi people are in right now because elections in Iraq need to be secure but we may need elections to have security.

Throughout the address, the President compared the desires of the terrorists with that of our desire for Iraq:

Our enemies in Iraq are good at filling hospitals, but they don't build any. They can incite men to murder and suicide, but they cannot inspire men to live in hope and add to the progress of their country. The terrorists’ only influence is violence and their only agenda is death.

Our agenda, in contrast, is freedom and independence, security and prosperity for the Iraqi people.

And by removing a source of terrorist violence and instability in the Middle East, we also make our own country more secure.

The President then went on to list and explain the "five steps in our plan to help Iraq achieve democracy and freedom:

The first of these steps will occur next month, when our coalition will transfer full sovereignty to a government of Iraqi citizens who will prepare the way for national elections. On June 30th, the Coalition Provisional Authority will cease to exist and will not be replaced. The occupation will end and Iraqis will govern their own affairs.

The second step in the plan for Iraqi democracy is to help establish the stability and security that democracy requires. The second step in the plan for Iraqi democracy is to help establish the stability and security that democracy requires.

The third step in the plan for Iraqi democracy is to continue rebuilding that nation's infrastructure so that a free Iraq can quickly gain economic independence and a better quality of life. Our coalition has already helped Iraqis to rebuild schools and refurbish hospitals and health clinics, repair bridges, upgrade the electrical grid and modernize the communication system. And now a growing private economy is taking shape. A new currency has been introduced. Iraq's governing council approved a new law that opens the country to foreign investment for the first time in decades. Iraq has liberalized its trade policy. And today, an Iraqi observer attends meetings of the World Trade Organization.

The fourth step in our plan is to enlist additional international support for Iraq's transition.

The fifth, and most important step is free national elections, to be held no later than next January. A United Nations team headed by Carina Perelli is now in Iraq helping form an independent election commission that will oversee an orderly accurate national election. In that election, the Iraqi people will choose a transitional national assembly, the first freely elected, truly representative national governing body in Iraq's history.

There is the plan. I have provided a link to the text of the entire speech. It is important that you understand the plan because it will be done this way. As intelligent Americans, we have the right to hold the president to his word. It is now our obligation to return peace and security to a nation that has not known it for 35 years. The President is on top of it.

Copyright © 2004 Kevin D. Korenthal