A Challenge to the People of Iraq

Do Iraqis have what it takes to be free?

As the United States continues to pay for Iraqi freedom with American lives, do the people of Iraq themselves have what it takes to achieve freedom in a liberal democracy? A people has seldom become a free society as the result of a gift from another nation. Not many of the former colonies of Imperial nations have been able to maintain their freedoms, perhaps because their freedom came too easily.

Now that the casualties begin to rise among the Iraqis who are cooperating with the Coalition, will the Iraqi people have the will and the courage to pursue freedom, or will they succumb to fear and intimidation? Will they continue to serve as interpreters and put their families at risk? Will they continue to train to enforce the law if they risk death on the day they graduate from police training? Will they support the establishment of civil government? Will they cooperate in establishing and supporting educational institutions? Will they be able to protect the infrastructure being built for them?

I believe most Americans support our presence in Iraq whether or not we like the way we got there, but I think our staying in Iraq through the long haul will depend on how willing Iraqi people are to take the same risks Americans are taking on their behalf.

President Bush made a foolhardy challenge to those attacking our troops by telling them to: "Bring it on!" Perhaps the challenge that needs to be made now is for Mr. Bush to challenge the Iraqi people to "Step up to the plate and fight for your own freedom." If the people of Iraq aren't willing to stand up to those who are trying to return the country to tyranny, why should American troops continue to die there?