LETTERS

A Response to Liz Sperber's "Put Down Your White Man's Burden"

By Matt Sledge

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Illustration by Chris Hu
Letter Writing

At the core of Liz Sperber's tortuous defense of the mysteriously capitalized Iraqi Resistance (see "Put Down Your White Man's Burden," April 7) is a very old concept. In fact, the makers of 1648's Treaty of Westphalia would appreciate her elevation of sovereignty above all else. "Since the Iraqi Resistance is the force working to regain Iraqi sovereignty, we support them-unconditionally." I am not a member of this "we." I do not unconditionally support the people who commit on a day-to-day basis atrocities designed to lead to either the return of a maniacal thug or the emergence of an apocalyptic theocracy. I must confess that it had never occurred to me to romanticize the insurgents. I roundly reject the idea that I fall into an "easy trap" when I indict insurgents for their use of terroristic tactics. I follow my conscience.

Are any rulers at all better than American rulers? No. Sovereignty is not a desirable end in and of itself. America's failings before and after the invasion of Iraq have been great. But the most mature course is to make the best out of an ugly situation-not to compound it by leaving now. Maturity is feeling real compassion for soldiers caught in a back-door draft, not supporting "unconditionally" a shadowy group that seeks to kill them at any chance. It is hoping that we can contribute to a stable, democratic Iraqi government and then leave as soon as possible.

There is little chance that the will of the Iraqi people will be heard if the United States leaves immediately.

There are a thousand decisions that need to be made to improve the occupation of Iraq. I wish a different president were making them. Our job now as citizens is to demand immediate improvements.

Sincerely,

Matthew Sledge B'08

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