Refusing to take refuge: Shadi Hamid on why American Muslims should support Iraqi democracy

This powerful article should be read by anyone who opposed the Iraq war but is uncertain about their responsibilities today. Shadi Hamid argues that “We all too easily take refuge in the pieties of protest, thinking that we have done our days work and spoken out against the perpetual straw men of empire and occupation. And, indeed, our rage might be well served by shallow rhetoric and self-pitying indignation. But, this is not the time for such selfishness or silence in the face of greater threats. There is a war currently underway between those who engage in the wanton killing of innocents in the name of “resistance” and those who wish to see the Iraqi people move courageously toward a free, dignified, and democratic future. And, I suspect that this time around, the moral position is a clear one – or at least it should be. There are some things in life, politics, and war which are morally ambiguous. This, however, is not one of them. (hat tip, norm) (AJ)