Iraq Progress Contradicts Media Portrayal

Published in Figaro
(France) on 1 September 2010
by Ivan Rioufol (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Emily Bell. Edited by Benjamin Beeghly.
Without a doubt, the media’s gregariousness has not subsided. In order to make Barack H. Obama an untouchable, inspired messiah, the unanimity of correct thought must now take responsibility for the ambiguities and gaps. However, Obama’s predictabilities, presumptions and indecisive personality are influencing his downfall in American opinion, and, in addition, his party risks big losses in the upcoming midterm elections in November. His nightmare might also accompany the vindication of George W. Bush’s foreign policy.

Without nuance, Bush was presented by his opponents as the paragon of foolishness. Indeed, as the United States leaves Iraq as planned (“I announce that the combat mission in Iraq is finished,” declared President Obama tonight), pacifists are not tallying up the points from this war. The followers of “soft power” — i.e. those with their heads in the sand — foretold unrest in the Arab world, civil war, the partitioning of Iraq, Vietnamization of the conflict, al-Qaida victory, etc. Actually, if the country remains weak, then a democracy has indeed taken the place of a bloody dictatorship. I am delighted about that.

Iraq’s governmental instability and the resurgence of certain attacks remain the negative points of a conflict that strengthened Iran and also cost many human lives (4,500 allied soldiers killed, overwhelmingly American; close to 100,000 civilian victims from attacks). However, Iraq now enjoys pluralism of the press, parties express themselves without obstacles, women stand up and make themselves heard and elections are held freely. In yesterday’s Le Figaro, Boris Boillon, French Ambassador to Baghdad, asserts that al-Qaida is retreating and is comprised of not more than 2,000 men. He especially believes that “the Iraqis appreciate the fruit of democratization … it is absolutely necessary that when we speak about Iraq, we should reason without an ideology. Iraq is a testing ground for democracy in the Arab world. A future of democracy will play out in the region. Potentially, Iraq can become a political model for its neighbors.”

Admittedly, history can’t change, but these new advances would not have taken place without Bush or his neoconservative advisors. Would it have been right to leave the Iraqis under a false secular tyrant? It’s up to them to respond, but I doubt they regret it.


Le panurgisme médiatique n'a sans doute pas fini d'avaler ses chapeaux. Pour avoir fait de Barack H. Obama un intouchable messie inspiré, l'unanimisme de la pensée correcte doit répondre aujourd'hui des lacunes pourtant prévisibles de son idole, personnalité présomptueuse et indécise, qui poursuit sa chute dans l'opinion américaine et risque, en novembre, de faire perdre son camp démocrate aux élections de mi-mandat. Mais à ce premier cauchemar pourrait bien s'ajouter la réhabilitation de la politique extérieure de George W. Bush, présenté sans nuance par ses adversaires comme le parangon de la sottise. En effet, à l'heure où les Etats-Unis quittent l'Irak comme prévu ("j'annonce que la mission de combat en Irak est terminée", a déclaré cette nuit le président Obama), le bilan de la guerre de 2003 n'est pas celui prédit par les "pacifistes". Adeptes du "soft power", c'est-à-dire de la tête dans le sable, ceux-là annonçaient l'embrasement du monde arabe, la guerre civile, la partition de l'Irak, la vietnamisation du conflit, la victoire d'al-Qaida, etc. En réalité, si le pays reste encore fragile, une démocratie a bel et bien pris la place d'une dictature sanglante. Je m'en réjouis.

L'instabilité gouvernementale et la reprise d'attentats ponctuels restent les points négatifs d'un conflit qui a également renforcé l'Iran et beaucoup coûté en vies humaines ( 4.500 soldats alliés tués, très majoritairement américains ; près de 100.000 civils victimes d'attentats). Pour autant, l'Irak bénéficie du pluralisme de la presse, les partis s'expriment sans entraves, les femmes s'y font entendre, les élections se déroulent librement. Dans Le Figaro d'hier, Boris Boillon, ambassadeur de France à Bagdad, assure qu'al-Qaida est en recul et ne compte plus que 2000 hommes. Surtout, il estime : "Les Irakiens apprécient les fruits de la démocratisation (...) Il faut absolument, quand on parle de l'Irak, raisonner sans idéologie. L'Irak est le vrai laboratoire de la démocratie dans le monde arabe. C'est là que se joue l'avenir de la démocratie dans la région Potentiellement, l'Irak peut devenir un modèle politique pour ses voisins". Certes, l'histoire reste à écrire. Mais ces avancées n'auraient pas eu lieu sans Bush ni ses conseillers néoconservateurs. Fallait-il laisser les Irakiens sous leur tyrannie faussement laïque? A eux de répondre, mais je doute qu'ils la regrettent...
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