Progress In Iraq

I am admittedly pleased with the voting in Iraq on their constitution. And while I continue to be optimistic I by no means think we have a "done deal" over there.

'Standing Up' A Constitution

By George F. Will

Tuesday, October 18, 2005; Page A25

[ The first civilian leader of the U.S. occupation, retired Army Lt. Gen. Jay] Garner was talking about putting in ninety days in Iraq and then heading home. . . . At dinner in the Hilton restaurant [in Baghdad in April 2003] . . . Garner laid out his timetable: reconstruct utilities, stand up ministries, appoint an interim government, write and ratify a constitution, hold elections. By August, Iraq would have a sovereign, functioning government in place. There was a stunned silence. Someone at the table said, "Which August?' "

-- George Packer, "The Assassins' Gate: America in Iraq"

Eccentric language often is symptomatic of peculiar thinking, and when the history of America's Iraq intervention is written, attention should be paid to the interveners' frequent use of the locution "to stand up." It carries the thought that things -- institutions such as armies and ministries, and even entire nations -- might be knocked over, as happens to lamps at rowdy parties, but then one simply stands them back up.

Last weekend Iraqi voters stood up a constitution. Before the vote, President Bush's national security adviser, Steve Hadley, said, "Whatever Iraqis decide, this is progress." Perhaps.