Where I Stand — Mike O’Callaghan: The latest Iraq policy

Thursday, Nov. 20, 2003 | 8:32 a.m.

Mike O'Callaghan is the Las Vegas Sun executive editor.

I'M NOT IM- PRESSED with the demonstrations against President George W. Bush in Great Britain. Such demonstrations are part of life in a democracy and few nations have more legitimate political demonstrations than our own country. Several nations have government-inspired demonstrations, but few have the freedom of open dissent, which is taken for granted here at home.

Evidently there are a large number of Brits who don't like Bush and an even greater number who don't like their own Prime Minister Tony Blair. I don't care if they don't like Bush because he is my president and not theirs. If they don't like Blair, that's their problem and not mine. If people hollering and running around with signs keeps them busy and happy, then let them demonstrate.

What is of great concern to most Americans are the changing policies coming from the White House, State Department and Pentagon. There is the daily killing of coalition force members more than six months after major combat operations were declared ended by our president. More Americans have been killed during this period of time than were killed during the time of major combat operations in March and April. Guerrilla warfare and acts of terrorism have combined to not only kill our troops but also innocent Iraqis. It reminds me of the continuing bloodbath triggered by Arafat's terrorists in the streets and homes of Israelis for the past three years.

In June and July the voices of our government told us that it was a few foreigners and disorganized followers of Saddam Hussein who were causing trouble. This resulted in Bush telling us that we could handle them and to bring them on. Then we told the Iraqis that their American-appointed Governing Council must first draft a constitution, and then hold elections and we could start our withdrawal of troops.

All of this was changed a few days ago when Paul Bremer III, our top administrator in Iraq, was called to the White House and was instructed that there is a new path to follow which speeds up the transfer of power to an interim Iraqi government. The drafting of a constitution can come later and so can elections. Full independence can be returned as early as next June. This haste didn't go unnoticed by the guerrillas and terrorists who want every American gone as soon as possible. It also made us recall the words of Sen. John McCain, who told a large audience that, "When the United States announces a schedule for training and deploying Iraqi security officers, then announces the acceleration of that schedule, then accelerates it again, it sends a signal of desperation, not certitude."

Now we must ask how this acceleration is being interpreted by the guerrilla forces. Have they forced our hand to get out of Iraq as soon as possible? Our president, after meeting with a group of Iraqi women in the Oval Office, told reporters he had assured them our troops weren't leaving their country. This time he didn't tell them to bring on the guerrillas.

We will soon know if the guerrillas are impressed with our new timetable to turn the reins of power over to the Iraqis. Now that they know we plan to turn over power in months and not years, will the attacks on our troops lessen or end? We would hope this is what happens but our opponents most likely see this as a sign of weakness and will continue the attacks.

If Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon is an example of how the guerrillas and terrorists think, then the bloodshed will not cease in Iraq.

Will the bloodshed cease when the last foreign soldier leaves Iraq? No. Without these stabilizing units, the Iraqi blood will flow even more freely until the likes of Saddam Hussein again rises to power.

The United States has already paid a heavy price with blood and money to end the sadistic reign of Saddam Hussein. Walking away now or before the situation is secure for a functioning society isn't an acceptable alternative. The resulting mess would eventually result in an even more deadly and widespread war in that oil-rich part of the world.

Let's hope that our president and his advisers have it right this time and will bring this situation to a positive end. Anything less will be unacceptable. In the meantime, let's not worry about a few thousand demonstrators climbing over London walls and yelling at our president. I'm sure it's not bothering him. Have they forced our hand to get out of Iraq as soon as possible?