February 4, 2005

On the day before President Bush assumed his office for the second time, it was my distinct honor and privilege to hand one of my very few VIP inaugural tickets to Manitowoc resident Jeff Uhlig.

As a Command Sergeant Major, the 30-year veteran is one of an elite few who hold the highest enlisted rank in the Army. Starting in February of 2004, he was in charge of a 2,500-soldier transportation battalion which transported war fighters and their equipment from Kuwait to forward posts in Iraq. "We were part of the largest logistical movement in history, at least since D-Day," he told me.

Over the course of our conversation, CSM Uhlig volunteered his impressions about the situation in Iraq and about the press coverage of the conflict there. He said that foremost in the soldiers' minds is how they're helping the Iraqi people, and they get appreciation in return.

"Every day when soldiers drive down the road hauling equipment and supplies, kids run out to the side of the road, and they're giving the thumbs-up, and they're waving American flags," he told me. "They've got signs made up: 'Thank You President Bush' and so on. You obviously don't see that in the news. But when you see it first hand, it means more anyway."

I pointed out to him that when Americans think of Belfast, they think of civil war with constant explosions and other violence. And when Europeans think of Chicago, the first association is often with Al Capone and Mafia violence. It's natural to focus on problems and threats since things that are going wrong have to be dealt with while things that are going right simply have to be enjoyed.

But while there are serious dangers and challenges in Iraq, the reality isn't quite as chaotic and out-of-control as it appears. And on Sunday, January 30th, the Iraqi people stunned the world by coming out in large numbers to vote in their first free elections in 50 years.

Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, Osama bin Laden's designated deputy in Iraq and the most visible leader of the insurgency, had released an audiotape warning Iraqis that democracy is evil, those who vote are infidels, and the insurgents would "wash the streets in blood" on election day. But nevertheless, the lines at the polling places were long and the voters determined and proud to cast their ballots.

As the New York Times put it on February 2nd, "At polling centers hit by explosions, survivors refused to go home, steadfastly waiting to cast their votes as policemen swept away bits of flesh."

There are many things that we could and should have done differently before the war and after when we found ourselves in the difficult role of occupiers. We have lost many of our best in battle, and too many innocent Iraqi's have suffered.

But it's a very great good that the majority in Iraq is participating in establishing the first freely elected government in the Arab world. Extremism arises from powerlessness, but majority rule (with minority rights) has a moderating influence which may spread throughout the Middle East if republican government succeeds in Iraq.