U.S. Congressman Harold Ford presented a lecture in a political science class at Lee University before meeting with Bradley County Democratic Party members at Mountainview Holiday Inn.He told the students they will be the ones to deal with the consequences of American policies today. "If we get Iraq and Afghanistan back together, we'll be safe. If not, it could be worse."
Ford said he disagrees with the idea of immediate withdrawal and with staying the course.
"We've got to figure out a way to build a broader coalition to help get their governments up, train the military and police, and help them write a constitution," he said.
Ford, of Memphis, told the students President George Bush did not prepare the American people or military for the conditions in Iraq. He led the American people to believe that it would be easy from a military standpoint to take control of the key installations and the most important infrastructure in the country.
"The country would roll out the red carpet and welcome democracy, and welcome our troops, our peacemakers and peace keepers, but we all know that has not been the case," he said. "Iraq immediately became a training ground for the next generation of terrorists."
He said America is now in a difficult and unenviable situation. Imagine someone from Iraq, who doesn't speak the language or understand the culture, telling the people of Cleveland how to live.
"Don't confuse your disdain for President Bush with the need to get this thing done right," he said. "We're there now, and we need to finish it with honor; and we need to finish it right."
He said there are three things that need to happen before the U.S. leaves Iraq. First, the government must be up and standing, and it must be inclusive of all the people before it can function.
"We must have a government that fully reflects the diversity of the country," he said. "Two, you've got to have a police and military force up and standing that can defend the government and maintain order."
He said the third necessity may be the most difficult. That is to draft a constitution that reflects who they are and where they want to be, and that can answer questions now and 50 years from now.
Ford said the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, but it took another decade to write the Constitution. The American Constitution was written by a homogenous group of people who were rich, owned property and happened to be white. In Iraq, there are the Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds, and there is a lot of tension between them.
"We've asked three groups with subgroups to come together and write a constitution in just two years after a dictator has been in control," he said. "It's going to take some time."
He said the situation in Iraq is far more difficult than Americans would like to admit. "That's where I believe the president has failed us most miserably."
Ford said he is more concerned about Afghanistan than Iraq because most Americans believe the United States' goals in that country are complete. "In fact, we haven't. They are probably in a more precarious stage in their democratic evolution than Iraq for one simple reason."
There is a global coalition on the ground in Afghanistan. They have elected a president and a parliament in place. There is a growing insurgency, the opium trade is bigger than ever, "and they're kind of at the moment when they tip the right way, or they can quickly go the other way."
Ford said, the Afghan president's main concerns are the growing insurgency and jobs. But, the country does not have the electrical or transportation infrastructures to support jobs. The people who want poppy go and get it. But, it's hard to market other crops without roads.
"He said if we don't figure out a way to crush this insurgency, we're going to face real problems. You Americans come over here all the time and preach to us to stop growing poppy. As soon as we get more jobs, we'll stop growing poppy.
"If we grow other crops, we can't get them to market because we have no roads."
Ford said there are so many things Americans take for granted. Former Secretary of State Colin Powell was right when he told Bush he would have to fix whatever he breaks.
"People over there don't have air conditioning and don't have heat, and it's cold there now," he said.
The congressman said he met a 33-year-old Afghani, and the only thing he knew during his lifetime was war. Up to 20 percent of the people don't know they have stopped fighting Russia.
"They've been at war so long the enemy is indistinguishable," he said. "Freedom and democracy don't mean much if you've never had it. Democracy is just shorthand for who the people want to represent them at that moment."
Ford said America cannot encourage democracy, then step back and complain when the outcome is not what was expected.
"I think we're all learning a valuable lesson - those who supported the president's efforts and those who did not," he said.
Source: The Cleveland Banner
