Good News From Iraq

[SquirleyWurley]

Do we have the reigns?

Are things stable?

It doesn't look to me as if we can rely on using our position in Iraq to meet various geopolitical challenges like interfering with China's desire for the oil, etc.  It doesn't look to me that we can rely upon those who are attempting to lead the government or military forces of Iraq.

At some point there are questions of whether others may be of help.

[Thorolf]

Um, help in stabilizing things, spreading out the burdens of dealing with the messiness of the new conditions in Iraq.

Do you have a good example of the UN helping to stabilize things?

There are LOTS of example of the UN sticking a finger in a dike but ignoring the water flowing over the top... there are LOTS of examples of "peacekeepers" being nearly as much trouble as the "bad people" themselves... there are actually precious few examples of UN "success" when it comes to using paramilitary power to "stabilize."

The UN itself has trouble finding these "successes." They highlight Namibia, El Salvadore, Nicaragua, and Cambodia... and if you look at those situations, any claim of "success" is tenuous at best, and the claim that the UN peacekeepers actually had much of a significant role in this "success" is a bit sketchy, as well.

FWIW

I'm just saying that the UN is hardly a panacea for Iraq's problems - they have a longer track record of failures and actually aggravating situations.

Just something to consider. 

[SquirleyWurley]

Do you have a good example of the UN helping to stabilize things?

Not really, just mentioning options that one might consider.

It did seem very useful and economical that when the US went into Bosnia, that UN and traditional allies were involved on our side, helping out to SOME degree, and that this might be compared/contrasted with this more recent episode in Iraq, a much more individualistic and cowboyish adventure.

There are LOTS of example of the UN sticking a finger in a dike but ignoring the water flowing over the top... there are LOTS of examples of "peacekeepers" being nearly as much trouble as the "bad people" themselves... there are actually precious few examples of UN "success" when it comes to using paramilitary power to "stabilize."

Good points which also need to be considered, yes.

I'm just saying that the UN is hardly a panacea for Iraq's problems - they have a longer track record of failures and actually aggravating situations.

Just something to consider. 

Agreed.  I try to be pretty equal opportunity when it comes to 'things to consider' and I try to find them on various sides of issues, for the sake of engaging critical discussion and potentially illuminating issues and potential solutions.

I don't have much interest in advocating particular solutions in too much detail, myself.

[Faithfulee]

The good news continues from Iraq.

There is general agreement that the  US will pull it’s troops out as  the Iraqi’s are able to take over control of the Islamic terrorists by themselves.  It is becoming more of a political and religious issue than a military one, as evidenced by the fact that fewer terrorist acts occur, but more and more of them are by women.

And politically, the Obama campaign will have to deal with his dumb and irresponsible suggest a fixed timetable for withdrawal.  Even the liberal media is beginning  to understand the  bankruptcy of that Obama position.

The front that we need to deal with now is for US  Muslims to speak out against the latest outrage,  more women as suicide bombers.  I just got back, but have not seen any Muslims who are disgusted enough by his to do something about it.