Military presence in Iraq has made country safer

Editor,

Some people are falsely blaming the U.S. for the violence in Iraq. In truth, the U.S. is the major force for peace in that suffering country. The violence there remains much less than it was under Baathist dictatorship. It is the different nature of the violence which may be confusing.

In former days, the violence mainly came from within an oppressive and dictatorial government. Currently, the violence comes from those opposed to the government elected by Iraqis. These opponents include Baathists seeking to return to power, various Islamic extremist groups and criminal gangs somewhat resembling the mafia.

In former days, the violence was spread throughout the country at the whim of those in political power. Currently, the violence is concentrated mainly in a few provinces, including Baghdad, Diyala and Anbar. In such places, U.S. and coalition troops work to establish peace and turn authority over to the elected Iraqi government.

Now, the violence is reported - sometimes even hyped - in the U.S., while in former days, it was usually ignored or downplayed. There are many causes, but two predominate ones. First, reporters are now present, and they're concentrated in Baghdad, a symbolic target area. They were absent or severely restricted under the previous regime. Reporting violence when close by is easier than the much more difficult - and less flashy - reporting on normal life in Dahuk or Maysan. There also is a financial incentive - reporting from Iraq is now more popular.

Second, a major purpose of some violent groups is precisely to generate publicity over here, with the goal of persuading the U.S. to stop opposing them in Iraq and elsewhere. For example, this has been a major theme of al-Qaida. Al-Qaida and similar groups in Iraq continue to lose militarily and in local politics, but they hope to get the U.S. to abandon Iraq and other places to their violent control.

Professor Victor D. Hanson once noted that "the U.S. Marine Corps has done more for global freedom and social justice" than the United Nations. It is in that light that we should view the U.S. forces in Iraq: working for freedom, justice and peace. Should the U.S. leave Iraq prematurely, the violence and misery would assuredly get worse - though it might be much easier to pretend it doesn't exist.

James K. Gruetzner

UNM student