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DC Shrugs Off 'Miracle' in Iraq

Obama must support healthy Iraq, even if he opposed war

By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 13, 2009 8:41 AM CST

(Newser) – The US barely noticed the recent "small miracle" in the Middle East, writes Charles Krauthammer in the Washington Post: Iraq's peaceful elections. The nation "moved away from religious sectarianism toward more secular nationalism”—good news for the US, bad for Iran. Even though our policies made it possible, Washington took little heed: “After all, it fundamentally contradicts the general establishment/media narrative of Iraq as ‘fiasco.’”

The elections are proof positive of major advancements, but trouble could still lie ahead—if the US withdraws too early. “Obama might argue that American sacrifices in Iraq were not worth what we achieved,” but that no longer matters. "It is his duty as leader of the nation that gave birth to this fledgling democracy to ensure that he does nothing to undermine it.”

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

An Iraqi election official sorts ballots from the country's provincial elections in the Shiite city of Najaf, 160 kilometers (100 miles) south of Baghdad, Iraq on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009. (AP Photo/Alaa al-Marjani)

An Iraqi girl holds up an ink-stained finger after her parents voted in the country's provincial elections in the Shiite holy city of Karbala, Iraq, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009. (AP Photo/Ahmed al-Husseini)

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Despite Obama's opposition, America went on to create a small miracle in the heart of the Arab Middle East. President Obama is now the custodian of that miracle. - Charles Krauthammer

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 9 comments

Doctor-Zaius

Feb 14, 2009 6:13 AM CST

Take credit for it? Please. When we pull out the Shiites in Iran will move in and Iraq will become west Iran. Maybe they will combine into one country and change the name to "Irate"

riffran

Feb 14, 2009 3:10 AM CST

regardless of whats in favor here....lets ask those proud blue thumbed new voters over there if they think its worth it.....that is who really counts......(way to go ladies)

Nwambe

Feb 13, 2009 9:52 PM CST

justme, I agree, it's a momentous occasion, one that is being widely ignored. However, one has to ask the question - If there's only one other operating democratic government, how good of a fit is democracy for that region?

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DC Shrugs Off 'Miracle' in Iraq