PhotoDude.com

Sun. Jan 25, 2004

Death Is No Living Standard

I haven’t been one to jump on every potential gaffe that comes out of Howard Dean’s mouth. Just as with Bush, there are so many others who provide that service. But this one grates reality: “You can say that it’s great that Saddam is gone and I’m sure that a lot of Iraqis feel it is great that Saddam is gone … But a lot of them gave their lives. And their living standard is a whole lot worse now than it was before.”

If you want to say “a lot of them gave their lives,” it was in order that we might remove Saddam. Even if you go by the most partisan estimation, between 8,000 and 10,000 Iraqis died during the war. Personally, I think that number is high by a factor of two or three.

Meanwhile, humans rights groups are now estimating that there may be more than 300,000 bodies in hundreds of mass graves around Iraq. Victims of Saddam’s regime. Since April, the media has been filled with stories of executions, torture, rapes, and complete societal paranoia in the name of simple survival.

“A lot gave their lives.” 10,000 or less, versus 300,000 or more. It’s some ugly math to have to consider. But the scale damn near tips over when you do. Especially when you factor in the 25,000,000 people who would continue to be at risk of sudden execution, if Saddam were still in power.

In addition, I’m curious when Mr. Dean became an expert on the living standards of Iraqis. Did he visit Iraq before the war? Has he been to Iraq since we toppled Saddam? If not (and we know he hasn’t), on just what basis does he make this factual comparison? Has he spoken to a significant selection of Iraqi citizens who told him this was their feeling?

Or is he just spouting off again in order to slap at Bush, informed only by the same thin veneer of media coverage that you and I see? Hell, anybody can do that, including millions who aren’t running for President, so what kind of case was Howard trying to make for himself with that comment?

I can point him to 200 newspapers and thousands of people protesting for and against various causes that say a lot about the changes in Iraqi lives. They can also do radical things like install a satellite dish without ending up in jail. People are expressing their opinions, freely and publicly, as well as absorbing those from outside, without fear of being shot.

How’s that for a “lifestyle improvement,” Howard?

One would assume the Dean campaign has read the recent polls showing that two thirds of Americans still approve of toppling Saddam, to this day. One would also assume that the they’ve realized preaching to the choir won’t fill this church. That’s now a proven fact. They’ve got to have a message that draws in new converts.

This is not it. Nor does it make one believe they will find that message in the next day and a half.