Tell-Tale Signs of a Win

According to the Democrats, the Administration's Iraq policy is a failure. Many on the left oppose "nation building" because they believe it doomed. Liberals claim Iraq is a quagmire with no solution. Journalist and John Kerry supporter Josh Marshall's convinced Iraq is "teetering on the edge of anarchy." And Senator Kerry insists Iraq would be different--and better--we he President.

When liberals whine, America's usually winning. And we are. Here's the evidence. First, U.S. combat casualties have fallen dramatically--the lowest rate (on a per day basis) in a year. Second, Iraqi oil production and electricity supply are back to pre-invasion levels. Third, Al Qaeda terrorists in Iraq admit they're losing (see tpfp post 2/9 9:23pm).

Former WSJ editor and Max Boot--now with Council on Foreign Relations--doesn't understand the pessimism. Writing in the LA Times (via Instapundit), Boot observes:

[The Iraqi] interim constitution . . . is a marvel of liberalism. It guarantees free speech, free religion, free assembly and numerous other rights that are taken for granted in the West but are conspicuously absent in the Arab world. Despite an attempt by some clerics to impose Islamic dictates, the constitution says only that Sharia will be one source among many for Iraqi law. . .

[A]lthough the terrorists can kill and maim, they cannot win public support. In the Sunni Triangle, where most of the violence is occurring, 21 imams issued a fatwa condemning "any act of violence against Iraqi state government workers, police and soldiers."

More bombs, both real and metaphorical, are certain to go off in the days ahead, but Iraq already has confounded many Western "progressives" who doubted that the Arab world could ever make progress. The bus may be rickety and it may have lost some passengers, but -- guess what? -- it's on schedule toward its final destination: democracy.

If this is a loss, what would be a win? Was WWII considered a success eight months after the fall of Berlin? As Jessica's Well demonstrated, not according to Life Magazine in January 1946. But post-War Europe turned out pretty well, didn't it?

Liberals, motivated by Bush hatred, think up is down. Democrats are wedded to the notion of "Two Americas," one of which is on life support. Such dystopian populism--pushed also by the far right Pat Buchanan--just isn't true. Never mind what Democrats say, America is winning in Iraq. And the economy's doing fine, in large part because of Bush's tax cut. Thus, despite the grumbles, "21st century life is good, comfortable and long, and getting better all the time"--as Greg Easterbrook's new book details. The left's hysteria about Bush actually is an acknowledgement of his accomplishments.

Democrat fear and loathing causes errors and misperceptions. Which raises two questions: what else do Dems get wrong? And: can America endure a President, and a party, whose reality is blinded by rage?

Update:

As usual, James Lileks's critique of Democratic Party pessimism is spot on:

It fits with the worldview of the intended audience, I guess – the people who think that once upon a time the United States strictly adhered to the Kyoto protocols, had legal gay marriage, and allowed overtime pay, and the President has undone these pillars of society one by one. Because he hates people, you know. He really wants to screw people over. That’s how you get reelected: wage unrelenting war against the electorate so they’ll vote for you in hopes that the beatings will slacken somewhat in the lame-duck term.

Moreover, like Steven Den Beste (see tpfp post 2/18 3:28am), Lileks thinks November's election should turn on a single issue:

[I]t’s the war. That’s what counts. If I had a choice between an isolationist Republican who would withdraw all American troops from everywhere and cast Israel adrift, OR a Joe Lieberman Democrat who understood the threat and wanted to take the fight to them - and nevermind what our valiant allies thought, like Russia - I’d pull the lever for the D. As I've said before: we can argue about the future of Western Civilization after we've ensured Western Civilization will survive.

Read the whole thing.