One of the classes I’m taking this semester is a history course on the American Revolution, but from the point of view of the British. It’s an approach that I’ve never really seen done before and for the most part (plus needing an elective) is the reason that I signed up.

As I’ve started reading the material I couldn’t help but compare it to what is going on these days in Iraq. The version of the Revolution that high schools teach is really a very sanitized approach and most students walk out of history class thinking that the conflict took about two years total (it was closer to eight) and that everyone wanted independence from England (New York was full of loyalists and a British stronghold). And based on that image many Americans are led to believe that the cause is lost in Iraq.

They don’t realize that divisions in Iraqi political factions are normal, despite the level of animosity between some of the groups. There are going to be problems with funding for the government over the next several years. The school system is going to be fucked up for years because they have to build it from scratch. Added pressure is on the nation because Americans are expecting Iraq to become a Mini-Me of America.

It’s not going to happen folks.

We should help them stand up a functional government that can police itself. They are going to need help for years with nations on the border which we are pretty much committed to helping with. But we need to let them determine which version of democracy they want, if that’s even what they want as a nation.

It’s their call from here, not ours.