Chapter 4 - The War in Iraq: What Works?

Summary

Pragmatism is a deep vein in the American psyche, and not merely the more philosophical kind exemplified in John Dewey and William James. On occasion, as an “expatriate Brit,” I find the everyday American focus on valuing that which works refreshing. Old Europe is full of that which no longer works. And who wants to be bothered with something that doesn't work? Yet, this practical bent refreshes only sometimes. Max Weber's rational irrationality, doing things “just because,” also has its merits. I suspect that it is Weber's irrationality that gives life a sense of meaning—but that is for another occasion. In this article, I want to take a closer look at pragmatism and the war in Iraq. In what sense has it worked?

This seam of pragmatism is, perhaps, why there has been much talk in the U.S. media of whether and in what ways the war in Iraq has worked. It seems the American public is more easily persuaded by pragmatic than idealistic argument. The enormous cost of a prolonged war is only worth it—in dollars, lives and U.S. worldwide prestige—if it can be shown that it has worked. President Bush's “Mission Accomplished” speech on the USS Abraham Lincoln on May 1, 2003, was perhaps a clear appropriation of this insight.

Those opposed to the war have been tempted to argue from two different, but still pragmatic standpoints. First, wars never work and, therefore, all wars are wrong. Second, this particular war has not worked and should not have been engaged in. A well-fought war in Afghanistan (or perhaps, Iran) would have worked better.

The first argument is similar to the argument that violence never works. The problem with the argument is that it is quite clear that in some circumstances violence does work. The bully who wants the smaller boy's candy punches the boy and takes his snack. Violence works and the bully repeats the violence as required. A mother wants her obstreperous child to be quiet. The daughter continues to play up. In exasperation, the mother lashes out. The child is hurt but becomes quiet. Violence works. Goals are achieved.