Mmmm.. I'll try to be careful here.
Will fail miserably though.
Firstly, I'm not sure how the "international community" would
brand the Dominican Republic if they withdrew. A lot would see
the Iraqi issue now as an American job, and wouldn't mind if
they got stuck with it. Don't forget that the international
reputation of the US right now is probably at its lowest point
since the final years of the Vietnam War.
Personally I also think it's a political issue, and I believe it would
be better if they stayed. Right now the US presence in Iraq
struggles to be seen as legitimate. A wider international
participation will IMHO help lend legitimacy to a process of
reconstruction which is in the interest of the world
( not only those who supported the war, or the US.. ), but also
to a majority of the Iraqis themselves.
I'm not sure what the Dominicans there are actually doing.. But
on the "military" side ( I would have preferred it to have been a
largely civilian matter, but it's an imperfect world ), providing
security in a time after an old order has broken down and
before a new one is properly established is tricky and requires
resources. More so than most seem to have expected.. It was
always likely that taking the place would be great fun, I was very
excited about this particular sequel, but holding it is a different
story. Anyways, these transition periods are always the tough
ones, more violent and messy compared to established
orders, authoritarian or democratic. ( So much for the democratic
peace theory in the short term btw, for those who're into that... )
So, it seems like as if the project has been short of both
legitimacy and force. The Dominicans help add to both of those,
and should IMHO be proud and supportive. Getting the job done
in reconstructing Iraq is what matters, and the responsability is
international ( regardless of the facts that Bush is a jerk AND
democraticly elected.., two facts which imho largely determines
one's attitudes on Iraq.. ). The Dominicans are there, great
stuff. Pray neither they nor others get hurt in the process, and
pray for those who are.
Final note. People, like Dick Cheney, believed things would go
rather smoothly, and that the troops there would be "welcomed
as liberators". They should have read up on Machiavelli among
others... Your enemies will hate you for losing their priviledges,
and your friends will turn against you as well, as the initial
euphoria will be replaced by disappointment and disillusion when
improvement doesn't come as fast as one had hoped.
I might just be wrong though... BTW, I'm a coward! I'd rather
run to live another day, than die trying.