Why We Lost Iraq

According to Tom Friedman, that is. He outlines it today in his column ($) in the Times. The problem, he argues, can be traced to the Bush Administration's tendency to look for loyal Republicans in its hiring practices:

[W]hile the Bush team has been lecturing the Iraqi Shiites to limit de-Baathification in Baghdad, it was carrying out its own de-Democratization in the Justice Department in Washington...What kind of example does that set for Iraqis?

A very bad example, to be sure, considering how Iraqis - like all Arabs - surely look to America for their inspiration.

Only a united America could have the patience and fortitude to heal a divided Iraq — and we simply don’t have that today...They actually thought they could unite Iraq, while dividing America.

Makes sense, doesn't it? Clearly, the Sunni and Shia in Iraq, naturally disposed to coalition building and consensus government, saw a partisan White House and a divided America and decided that, against their better nature, they'd give tribal loyalty and internecine warfare a shot instead. Before reading Mr. Friedman's column, I hadn't realized that victory in Iraq was so close - or that signing up for Times Select would reap such rewards.