Lower Expectations
by Jonah Goldberg from National Review
If all we need in Iraq is a strong state with a moderately pro-American government, we should all be delighted with the behavior of, say, Saudi Arabia over the last few decades. Saudi Arabia has one of the most pro-American regimes in the region. It largely controls its borders and society, and at least technically, it is not a safe haven for terrorists. Indeed, al Qaeda is chomping at the bit to behead the royal family. And yet, you’d have to be crazier than a Jewish deli owner in Riyadh to think what America needs most is another Saudi Arabia. If you recall, the 9/11 hijackers were overwhelmingly Saudi. Osama bin Laden is a Saudi. Al Qaeda’s bankrollers are often Saudi. The Saudi government funds the exportation of Saudi-style Wahhabism, which is serving to radicalize Muslims around the world, particularly in places like Pakistan. Of course, Iraqi culture is very different from Saudi culture, and a pious Sunni theocracy isn’t in the offing in Iraq. But that misses the point. Even Jordan — which is a far cry better than Saudi Arabia in virtually every respect — suffers from high levels of anti-Americanism and support for terrorism.