tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753820.post116309318684337868..comments2023-10-30T04:16:25.917-04:00Comments on Sentient Developments: US accountability in IraqGeorgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003484633933455827noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753820.post-1163245259632461072006-11-11T06:40:00.000-05:002006-11-11T06:40:00.000-05:00Actually Saddam's regime was stubbornly secular, a...Actually Saddam's regime was stubbornly secular, and certainly tough. It sounds like you're advocating the rise of a new Iraqi strong man (who presumably can be knocked down again when he starts acting outside his remit).<BR/><BR/>Many of the commentators which I've heard over the years have had little knowledge of history. Based upon historical precedents, I'd predict that flooding the country with US military would not resolve the problem and would instead ferment further violence. Furthermore such an esculation of the occupation would be unlikely to be very popular with US (or British) taxpayers.<BR/><BR/>In my opinion the stoic idea of "seeing the job through" is based upon a naive analysis of the situation. As I see it the only viable option is withdrawal, followed by a period of civil war, followed by peace. For a historical parallel see what happened in the Balkans in the 1990s.Bob Mottramhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07508972554031337434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753820.post-1163170764340962212006-11-10T09:59:00.000-05:002006-11-10T09:59:00.000-05:00Hi Ryan,Laws have meaning outside of their ability...Hi Ryan,<BR/><BR/>Laws have meaning outside of their ability to be enforced. In this case, it's the spirit of international co-operation and multi-lateral decision making that's being violated. Moreover, an immoral act is still immoral even if you can get away with it. <BR/><BR/>As for the tougher regime, here's what I would do: I would retain the current government, but suspend elections until further notice and impose martial law. The neo-con idea that you can just go in and set up a democracy and everything will take care of itself is sheer nonsense and ideological wishful thinking. <BR/><BR/>Then, in conjunction with the occupying forces, I would work on creating a strong internal military and police force to maintain order, to protect the government, and to instill a sense of order and authority on the public. <BR/><BR/>The country would slowly start to stabilize and citizens would go back to doing their business and rebuild the infrastructure. I'm figuring about a decade of work. Economic and social reform would eventually follow. Martial law could be dropped and elections would eventually follow.<BR/><BR/>Wishful thinking, perhaps. But I'm open to suggestions.Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13003484633933455827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753820.post-1163115124772348282006-11-09T18:32:00.000-05:002006-11-09T18:32:00.000-05:00I must comment that calling the war illegal has li...I must comment that calling the war illegal has little use except as an insult.<BR/><BR/>In order for laws to mean anything, they must be enforced, or at least have the potential to be. If one can announce to the world how, when, and where they intend to commit a crime, proceed with that crime, and yet face no reprisal at all, then whatever 'law' is being broken clearly has no meaning in reality.<BR/><BR/>As far as establishing a tougher, secular regime, I'm not sure how practical that is. The Iraqi government, weak as it is, has already been established. For the coalition to undo or undermine that and go back to installing leaders of their choice again would further stretch their credibility...assuming they really have any left.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com