Recent highly publicized lawlessness in certain Iraqi cities has added to the consternation over whether Iraq is "ready" to take over the governance of their own country. The same folks who criticize the President for attempting "nation building" in Iraq seem to oppose taking the steps to prepare U.S. withdrawal. Even respected and well meaning voices like GE's Jack Welch suggest that "perhaps a deadline change will [make sense] too."
But as Welch points out, political "deadlines" are a different animal than those in business. "In the corporate world, inside a company, most people are pulling for the same outcome. You set a deadline, and everyone heads for it. In politics, when you set a deadline, you can be pretty sure that close to half the people are pulling in the other direction. In fact, missing it often furthers their cause."
But the June 30 date for transfer of governing authority to Iraq is not a deadline, it is a milestone, just as the dates for establishing a representative governing council and an interim constitution were milestones. Those events occurred approximately, not precisely, on schedule. They were not perfect but they were progressive accomplishments nonetheless.
Iraq should be handed the reins while we remain at their side as a calm, reassuring, experienced friend. We should not expect a fully functioning democracy to snap into action overnight on that date, rather it will be the first day behind the wheel for the Iraqis with their new "self-government learner's permit."
Posted by JohnGalt at April 13, 2004 09:01 AMDeadline, Milestone, doesn't make any difference. No one without guns behind them will have any real power. There will be no Iraqi government until they have their own military and law enforcement capable of actually enforcing the laws they may pass. After June 30 there will be a group of Iraqis working on administrative duties with a seperate power structure called the US military. We will have to be far more than a calm reassuring friend at their side, we will be the only power available to enforce the will of the council. Tricky business when the enforcer does not report to the entity directing enforcement. At some point the Iraqi people, the silent majority, will have to stand up and organize themselves to fight for their own liberty.
Posted by: Silence Dogood at April 15, 2004 09:05 AMAmen, Silence. But coalition forces have given them a chance taht they did not have under Saddam Hussein.
Posted by: jk at April 15, 2004 01:21 PM