So, Iraq is now soverign....whoopee....
Now, don't get me wrong. The early turnover was a brilliant move. It has likely stopped the terroristsin their tracks. I mean, schedules will have to bechanged, daytimers updated, PDA's reprogrammed. The violence will stop for at least....oops there goes another car bomb!
Actually, the early turnover was a bright move. OurTerrorist friends are quite into symbols and the turnover date has been one big looming symbol. But now we must ask "what's next?" or more importantly"what's changed?"
In the short term not much has changed. US Soldiers still patrol the streets and maintain what order they can. The men and women of our armed forces are still in harms way, as are the majority of the Iraqis, who hope for more peaceful country. But has the Turnover accomplished anything? Again we come back to symbols.
The symbol of a sovereign Iraq can be quite powerful, if the new rulerscan work it right. We have already seen some tough talk from the new Prime Minister, who has the potential to become the Post War leader Iraq needs, if he survives.
Regardless, our troops will remain and more are coming. More are going to be injured or killed. It is inevitable and unavoidable. Turnover is supposed to be the beginning of the end. The start of the exit strategy, but there will be no quick exit. But one thing has changed symbolically. By the grace of one small ceremony our troops have changed from occupiers to guests. From conquerers to allies. Will this new symbol make any difference? We must wait and see.
I always hold out some hope, but hope has been hard to come by even in a newly sovereign Iraq.