Unintended Consequences in Iraq

Re “The Downside of Democracy,” Commentary, Feb. 24: Unintended consequences of the Bush administration’s adventure into Iraq are manifesting in front of our eyes. It appears Bush’s monumental failure to have a postwar plan gave the many Islamic factions in Iraq the opportunity to unite against their invaders, conduct the elections demanded by Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani (not Bush) and now celebrate that Islamic law and values will lead Iraq. A little different from Saddam Hussein’s secular Iraqi society that had nothing to do with 9/11.

While democratically instigating a new Iranian-style, anti-American power in Iraq, the Bush administration looks to fail at its underlying goals of controlling Iraq’s oil, building its planned 14 military bases and undemocratically capturing a geopolitical bonanza for neoconservative interests and U.S. corporate wealth. Our heroic soldiers and a politically divided America should not have to suffer any more of Bush’s delusionary attempts at intervening in a world that he little understands.

Bill Rolfing

Laguna Beach

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Juan Cole’s commentary expressed quite articulately what many of us had worried about even before this misguided war was begun. It was extremely Pollyannaish for the neocons to think that the Iraqis could jump from a mind-set from the Middle Ages to a 21st century democracy. When our democracy first began, women had few rights, could not vote, were held to a higher moral standard and were covered from neck to toe. Need I mention that slavery was legal.

It continues to sadden me than the administration and its neocon base continue to be so simple-minded. They may have very well produced another Iran, or at least an Iran sympathizer. Mission accomplished?

Ted Hendrickson

Irvine