Editorial: A turning point? Not right now

Thursday, July 24, 2003 | 8:31 a.m.

The news out of Iraq over the past couple of days finally contained some uplifting information. The deaths Tuesday of Saddam Hussein's sons at the hands of the Army's 101st Airborne Division were significant. Also significant was the capture on Wednesday of the leader of the Special Republican Guard. In our view, however, these news items, although extremely welcome, do not signify a turning point in the effort to rebuild Iraq and free its citizens.

The turning point in the Iraq war will come when American soldiers are no longer being shot and killed every day.

Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, commander of coalition forces in Iraq, used the words "turning point" in speaking to the press after the deaths of Qusai and Uday Hussein were confirmed. Their deaths are "definitely going to be a turning point for the resistance and the subversive elements that we are encountering," Sanchez said. We will gladly admit we were wrong if the general's assessment comes to pass -- and we hope it does. But as important as they once were as symbols of Saddam's regime, Qusai and Uday, in the end, were just two hated people hiding from justice. We are not aware of evidence suggesting that these sadistic brothers were directing the dozen or so attacks on U.S. forces that have been occurring daily of late. Even the killing or capture of Saddam himself would not guarantee a sudden lessening of hostilities.

There are 25 million people in Iraq. All of them have been living under a totalitarian government their whole lives. Saddam's regime was particularly authoritarian and brutal. Few Iraqis have any knowledge of freedom and what that could mean for their individual lives and their country. So far the image for the average Iraqi of an American is one dressed in combat fatigues and carrying weapons. They know Americans deposed Saddam but many fear all it means is that one oppressor has been exchanged for another.

When our civilian efforts have a chance to catch up with our military efforts, then we can expect to see a true turning point. The Iraqi people need to see a democratic government emerge, roads and buildings repaired, power restored, schools and hospitals opened, a fair justice system created and their economy coming under their own control. When all of this begins replacing the current chaos, attacks on American forces will be as repugnant to Iraqis as they are to Americans. Then we can say we've turned the corner.