The case against Iraqification

Submitted by Michael Elvin (United States), Dec 15, 2003 at 10:16

In what sense could we consider the current exit strategy "Iraqification"? It is to appoint hand-picked delegates to decide all of Iraq's important questions in a stage-managed forum commonly seen by most intelligent Iraqis as government by proxy. This process can only serve to de-legitimate any individual anointed by the ruling power.

The most egregious harm will be done by having our puppets ostentatiously sign over Iraqi assets to American interests. We reap the whirlwind by buying up the phone company and every other societal function in order to make corporate Iraq our profit center. Far better for long-term American interests to appear to be the good guys, which is a perennial pose they can still be made to believe in. The way is simple....

Give it back. Let them choose their own way, and their own leaders. With the passage of time they will realize they are grateful to us for breaking their chains and then leaving, and will become our actual allies instead of our duplicitous lackeys.

What would the townspeople think of the Lone Ranger if, instead of leaving once his role was over, he stayed on to become a total pain, telling everyone how to run their business and worse, contriving to gain control over their town treasury? Would he live in their memory?

You bet.

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