I’m not much interested in revisionist debates about the Iraq War, although I know we will be having these debates for the next couple of decades. Basically, anything good or positive that happens in Iraq (or in the Middle East, more generally) can and will be pointed to to justify the invasion of Iraq and the removal from power of Saddam Hussein and his Ba’athist henchmen. Additionally, any criticism that points to the high level of casualties, the disruption of Iraqi society, or the sheer cost of the endeavor, will be met with criticisms of Donald Rumsfeld for not using enough initial force.
There is a simple rebuttal to this nonsense. While it is indeed possible to make lemonade out of lemons, the invasion of Iraq was premised on lies, did not address an imminent threat to our country, and was therefore immoral. While we must continue to make foreign policy in the world, and therefore cannot continually harp on this grave breach of ethics, it really is very simple. You cannot cheerlead a war of aggression…even retroactively.
