KEEP YOUR TESTOSTERONE IN CHECK PLEASE
I was flipping around and the History Channel had a debate with several historians about what future historians will say about Iraq. Leaving aside the inherently dubious concept of predicting what people in the future will say about the past, it was interesting. One pointed out that it will depend on if it's an American historian or an Arab historian doing the talking.

But another suggested that the conquest/liberation of Iraq would be seen as "one of the great triumphs in American history." There was also a column in the local newspaper saying how "liberation tastes like crow to liberals."

I think this is American triumphalism of the type that makes us SO beloved around the world. Why don't they see that we are righteous, selfless crusaders liberating their miserable people from tyranny and oppression? In your face. A total lack of any grace. The concept of being humble is as alien to our nature as walking around the block when you can take a car. We're the best therefore everyone else is a bunch of pathetic loooooooosers.

It's one thing to being proud of your country, but pride to the extreme is dangerous. Hitler made Germans feel proud. Saddam appealed to Iraqi pride for decades to prop up his regime. In fact, most dictators exploit national pride for their nefarious purposes. Pride goeth before the fall, as they say; one of the seven deadly sins. But as with most other things, America doesn't do pride in moderation.

First, I am not interested in the ramblings of some yapping head shrieking "I told you so." If she beats her chest any harder, she might crack her sternum. When the next terrible terrorist attack happens (which I and most Americans believe is MORE likely because of the invasion), I will try to refrain from saying "I told you so." But if it does not happen in the next decade, I will be more than happy for someone to say to me in 2013 that I was wrong.

Second, let's get something straight. From a purely military perspective, the invasion of Iraq was fairly quick and efficient with a relatively small number of casualties (civilian and military) as compared to most other wars. But to call it "one of the great triumphs in American history" is stretching it beyond credulity.

We toppled an unpopular regime isolated from most of the world. We beat a third-rate army deprived by a decade of sanctions and weakend by frequent bombing in the "no fly zone." We did so with by far the most powerful military in the world, a military which is funded better than the next 15 highest-spending national militaries COMBINED. It was a mismatch from day one. It was the New York Yankees against a tee ball team.

The US military did its job, and if you're pro-war, you can be happy about that. Say, "nice job." But to call it one of the greatest triumphs in history, that's laughable. Somehow, I don't think historians are going to mention the liberation of Bagdhad in the same sentence as, say, D-Day.

There's a war for the "hearts and minds" of the moderates in the Arab world. Every triumphalist statement and action gives further ammunition to those who want to hate us and makes it harder and harder for our friends in that region to maintain their position. So if you are one of those who think the capture of Bagdhad validates your position, be happy if you must but I ask you to please keep your testosterone in check. For everyone's benefit, including mine and yours.