Benchmark Hypocrisy

Congress (Democrats and some Republicans, too) is accusing the fledgling Iraqi government of falling short on political benchmarks, using those accusations as justification for a retreat in Iraq. Hm, let's see. In the past six months of the current Congressional session, what have those same Congressional leaders accomplished?

One bill, on the minimum wage.

Not that the minimum wage isn't important, but it's certainly not on a par with immigration reform, health care reform, social security reform, judicial nominations, or any of the other major things that haven't been done yet. Democrats have led our Congress twice as long as Petraeus has led the U.S. forces in Iraq, but have accomplished nowhere near as much. And, if approval polls are what should be used to direct these things, then shouldn't we get rid of Congress since their poll numbers are far worse than Bush's?

Now, let's contrast the situations. American Congressional leaders live in luxury and complete safety, with chauffers and private jets to take them wherever they choose to go. They live in mansions (some more than one) with top-notch security and full staffs to cater to their needs. They're operating in a long-established process of legislation, with established rules and practices that are well understood. In Iraq, the governmental leaders literally risk life and limb every day, thwarting assassination attempts and fearing for the lives of their families to set up a brand new government out of a three-party country that is currently being torn by terrorist violence. How dare our spineless Congressional leaders squawk about a lack of Iraqi progress in the middle of a war when they can't accomplish anything in the most safe and prosperous society in the history of the planet!

The thing that this report should tell the American people is that real progress is being made in Iraq, especially in the area of the Iraqi military and security forces. Doesn't it make sense that those are the areas that need to be improved first? What good is a new government if there is no military power to enforce and secure it? By contrast, a military presence that provides security and safety will create the conditions that will allow the government to be formed. And don't forget - forming a government takes a lot of time and patience; it took the U.S. 12 years to begin operating under our Constitution.

Let's not allow panic to ensue here. Be patient, let Petraeus and the U.S. troops do their job. They're winning, and as I said before, the only way their success won't translate into ultimate victory is if Washington politicians get in the way.

There's my two cents.