Embed free Iraqis, now!

It has been clear for many months that the wild card in any campaign to liberate Iraq would be not the quality of American military might or the malevolence of Saddam Hussein’s resistance. Rather, it would be the role played by the Iraqi people in helping to free themselves from one of the world’s most despotic tyrants.

In a op-ed in today’s Washington Times, Center President Frank Gaffney makes the case that despite the awesome application of the power of U.S. armed forces that has been on display minute-by-minute, thanks to the real-time reporting of correspondents "embedded" with various combat units, a robust effort has not been made to secure the active support of the Iraqi people.

As things stand now, they appear, to be uncertain of the true purpose of American and allied troops in their country. The people of Iraq are also terrified by the continuing predations of Saddam’s Fedayeen and other enforcers, which Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has properly called "death squads."

As a result of these factors, the Iraqi people have yet to play any significant role in their liberation. Should they continue to do so, estimates of a protracted and bloody fight are much more likely to prove correct.

What is to be done to correct this unsatisfactory, and potentially disastrous, state of affairs? The answer: "Embed" Free Iraqis. There are myriad other ways in which Free Iraqis’ help could be instrumental to the "hearts and minds" dimension of this conflict. Opportunities should be afforded to U.S.-trained Iraqi freedom fighters to participate in operations in the southern and central parts of the country, just as the Kurds are now being given roles to play in liberating the North. Having Free Iraqis at checkpoints could help with the challenging task of defending against Saddam-loyalists masquerading as civilians, without harming bonafide non-combatants.

Many lives, Iraqi and American, are at stake, as may even be the ultimate success of the mission. "Embed" Free Iraqis now.