As a proud Democrat and somebody who cringes every time President Bush speaks, I never thought I would say what I am about to say … Bush was right.

Early signs of democracy are taking hold in the Middle East. I do not think that the changes in the Middle East could have happened without the invasion of Iraq. We must ask ourselves, however, whether it was worth the cost.

First, here is the good news. Iraq held free elections for the first time in 40 years. The turnout was higher than it was here in the United States. The Palestinians recently held free elections. Egypt’s president, Hosni Mubarak is allowing an opponent in direct presidential elections there for the first time since he took office in 1981. Finally, the Lebanese people are demanding that Syria pull its troops out of their country. Syria is at least saying that it will remove them. No good Democrat can question that these developments are a positive sign.

Even with the tide of democracy sweeping through the Middle East, we have to step back and ask ourselves a very important question. Is it worth the loss of 1,500-plus American lives with probably more to come? Is it worth hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars? Is it worth inflaming the Islamic extremists even more?

Egypt is one of our biggest allies in the Middle East. I do not think they will be attacking us anytime soon. The Palestinians are too busy working toward their cause of trying to drive Israel off the map. Finally, I have never once heard Lebanon mentioned as being a threat. These countries turning toward democracy is definitely a positive step, but those developments do not have a major effect on our country.

Bush’s primary objective in invading Iraq was to make us safer. At this point, however, we are not one bit safer as a result of the invasion. We are possibly even less safe. If this tide of democracy were to sweep through Iran, Syria and North Korea, I would say that the invasion of Iraq is worth the tremendous cost we are paying. But, however, it does not look like that is happening anytime soon. At this point in time, the invasion of Iraq was not worth it.

Tony Crnic

Senior

Accounting