‘Let freedom reign’

Friday, July 11, 2008 | 2:05 a.m.

The United Nations mandate allowing U.S. forces to operate in Iraq expires Dec. 31.

Even though both countries have elections coming up, this critically important deadline is getting a lot more attention in Iraq than in the United States. And in Iraq, where elections have meaning now, a majority of citizens are quite expressive on this issue: They want the United States out.

This sentiment is not lost on Iraqi politicians who, from the prime minister on down, have learned from American politicians to at least posture themselves as reflecting the will of the majority of the people.

“Let freedom reign,” President Bush wrote in a note to then-National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice in 2004, after she had passed him a note during a NATO meeting that sovereignty had officially been granted to the new Iraqi government.

But how sincere is Bush, really, when it comes to acting on that politically stirring statement?

Reflecting the will of the Iraqi people, Iraqi leaders have told the Bush administration they will not enter into a new security agreement with the United States past Dec. 31 unless it includes a timetable for the onset of true Iraqi sovereignty — meaning a timetable for the withdrawal of all coalition troops.

What an opportunity for Bush! He could wrap up his administration by declaring victory in Iraq. The new, free, democratic Iraq government has declared it is able stand on its own and has given its grateful blessing to our departure, he could say — and actually be speaking the truth.

But such is Bush’s obsession with Iraq that he is reacting as he did three years ago when many Democrats sought a timetable. Coming from the White House are the same old “stay the course” and “conditions on the ground” themes that have been repeated ad nauseam over the past four years.

“Freedom for the Iraqi people” was the final stated reason for the Iraq war, after the initial reasons belatedly did not pan out. It appears this reason is also not panning out.