I said the building part was a "complete failure", to which you replied "This isn't an accurate characterization."
Fair enough, its not a "complete" failure. However, the planning and execution of it should have been implemented much, much better than the Bush administration has done. What has gone on for the past year in Iraq looks a lot more like "seat of the pants" actions than a well thought out process. You've gotta admit, 6 more months of planning for post-war development in Iraq certainly couldn't have hurt the process. The US could even have told the world (UN, whatever) that following the destruction of Saddam's regime (which we and the rest of the world know will happen) the following actions will be forced upon the country for its own good, including many "questions" I listed in my previous email.
"But there is a war of much narrower scope still underway and it may be for a while. I don't know of anyone who didn't expect it. "
What's going on now in Iraq is not a war, and its misleading to call it a war. The secular coalition is trying to police an Islamic uprising of mostly locals on their own turf. 1- It should never have been allowed to get to the level that it is today (example of Bush administration poor execution), and 2- it may continue for decades unless checked, and 3- checking it will require massive, massive Iraqi and coalition deaths. I don't think the American people want to see 50,000 coalition casualties and 1 million Iraqi "terrorist/civilian/who really knows" casualties over the next decade, when it most likely will result in increase hatred of the US rather than increased support for democracy.
and as for who didn't expect it - I think its clear the Bush administration didn't expect it, because they didn't plan for it. Or perhaps George just doesn't like to work that hard....
"14 or 15 of the 18 provinces are secure according to the Iraqi Prime Minister. That's not bad."
Why do you believe him? And if it is true, why aren't there reports DAILY on the US and Iraqi news about these 14 or 15 blissful Iraqi provinces? If its true, there should be constant reports from blissful province #5 about all the new hospitals and power generation facilities and Iraqi-coalition group parties demonstrating to the 3-4 rebel provinces how good things can be. Again, either that soundbyte is a lie, or George's public relations machine STINKS.
"As to "massive public relations", that's crap. Give these people a path to security and all will be well. "
This comment is pretty ignorant. The path to security requires that the vast majority of peaceful, rational, reasonable educated, well meaning Iraqis support the coalition rather than the insurgents. Normal peaceful Iraqis (which represent the vast majority) have to choose either us (the secular coalition) or them (which they probably see as something like Islamic Iraqi freedom fighters). Winning that decision is 100% public relations!! Keep in mind a huge chunk of Iraqis are modestly educated 15-25 year old men without decent jobs - the "them" group probably isn't as naturally horrific to them as it is to you and me. You have to win their support, you can't just assume it (like George does when he spouts off his rhetoric about freedom). George has given freedom to these 15-25 year old, and what they are choosing to do with it is get some weapons and bomb making knowledge and kill coalition troops.
You can't implement public security against a population that doesn't support you. What in the world are you thinking??
"But if history tells us anything it is that war is unpredictable by its nature, and whatever planning is done will ultimately prove to be inadequate."
The Iraq war is over, its the rebuild phase. You don't think World War 2 ended in the early 1950's when the US returned complete control of Japan and Germany to sovereign governments do you? This marketing excuse (I'm a war president) is Bush's attempt to cloak his failing policies in patriotic rhetoric.
George has shown negligible capability to build anything, so he should go. He's a great destroyer of things, but the C student from Yale and big vacation taker should move aside and let someone else do the hard work of rebuilding what he has torn down.
"You ask a lot of good questions and many are the same questions I have."
Those question took me two minutes to come up with. Don't you think the Bush administration's failure to implement ANY of them indicates some type of incompetence in the nation building campaign?
Elroy |
