Now that Saddam is captured, what should the US do make the best of it?

[Hayabusa Rider]

I will forget what I expect to happen, and concentrate on this as an opportunity.

Assuming that the intent would be for the best interests of the Iraqis, how should we proceed?

I see this as a limited window of opportunity, a moment where there may be more good will towards us than at other times.

I think we ought to move quickly to hold elections for representatives to an Iraqi constitutional congress, while this is fresh in the minds of the people there. There MIGHT be a chance to have a government more moderate than what may happen otherwise.

THis is just starters of course.



Thoughts?

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: WinstonSmith
I will forget what I expect to happen, and concentrate on this as an opportunity.

Assuming that the intent would be for the best interests of the Iraqis, how should we proceed?

I see this as a limited window of opportunity, a moment where there may be more good will towards us than at other times.

I think we ought to move quickly to hold elections for representatives to an Iraqi constitutional congress, while this is fresh in the minds of the people there. There MIGHT be a chance to have a government more moderate than what may happen otherwise.

THis is just starters of course.



Thoughts?

Well considering there is still no constitution for Iraq, they cant really hold elections quickly.


He does need to be tried by his peers in iraq.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: WinstonSmith
I will forget what I expect to happen, and concentrate on this as an opportunity.

Assuming that the intent would be for the best interests of the Iraqis, how should we proceed?

I see this as a limited window of opportunity, a moment where there may be more good will towards us than at other times.

I think we ought to move quickly to hold elections for representatives to an Iraqi constitutional congress, while this is fresh in the minds of the people there. There MIGHT be a chance to have a government more moderate than what may happen otherwise.

THis is just starters of course.



Thoughts?

Well considering there is still no constitution for Iraq, they cant really hold elections quickly.


He does need to be tried by his peers in iraq.

They didnt have the US government in place before the Constitutional Congress either. The government needs to conform to the constitution, not the reverse.

I am not meaning the election of the government, but representatives for the constitution.

 

[markuskidd]

constitional congress ---- a congress to *put together* a constitution

 

[XZeroII]

We should throw a party where everyone gets drunk and runs naked through the streets.

 

[onelove]

"what should the US do make the best of it?"


if we are smart, play it like this was our prime objective all along (having now pumped enough $ into the warconomy to turn things around) and start getting the hell out before we have to pay [more] to fix the mess. *cough*afghanistan*cough* (okay - that country was already a bombed-out husk). Let Qatar fill the power vacuum in the Middle East.

This choice is all too easy to spin our way - "now that Saddam is captured, the country of Iraq is in the hands of the people of Iraq" (good luck!)

Then we can start figuring out what to do when China decides to lead a "coalition of the willing" to get back that breakaway province.

 

[markuskidd]

that "coalition of the willing" comment really hits home, onelove

 

[colonel]

I love it, you guys think a nation without democracy since day 1 it gonna make it happens, iraquies dont know what is live with democracy because they dont trust the west since the british invasions, why dont watch the Lawrence of Arabia movie....

 

[feralkid]

Originally posted by: colonel
I love it, you guys think a nation without democracy since day 1 it gonna make it happens, iraquies dont know what is live with democracy because they dont trust the west since the british invasions, why dont watch the Lawrence of Arabia movie....

mmmmm-kay.

 

[burnedout]

Now that Saddam is captured, what should the US do make the best of it?

I'd say you have the right idea about the government over there.

As far as Saddam is concerned, I would pick his brain apart for every possible detail regarding his regime since he took power. I don't mean just the confrontational relationship he's had with the US, but everything else as well.

 

[LunarRay]

charrison,

Well considering there is still no constitution for Iraq, they cant really hold elections quickly.
He does need to be tried by his peers in iraq.

The folks we set up or the 'new' Iraqi government? I'd thing the world court is the place for this. But, his main defense is in the notion that he is still the leader of Iraq and that the US invaded his country illegally. A sovereign nation (as Iraq may be under law) may have rules of law that condone what he was charged with already.. there is a bill of indictment already, I understand.
What will come out of this is more 'slam' of American policy.

 

[glugglug]

I'm still waiting for the real Saddam Hussein to go on the air laughing at the bum they captured and got to identify himself as Saddam.

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

The folks we set up or the 'new' Iraqi government? I'd thing the world court is the place for this. But, his main defense is in the notion that he is still the leader of Iraq and that the US invaded his country illegally. A sovereign nation (as Iraq may be under law) may have rules of law that condone what he was charged with already.. there is a bill of indictment already, I understand.
What will come out of this is more 'slam' of American policy.

I really find this aspect very interesting. The US tried at least three times to kill Saddam using cruise missile/JDAM attacks (not to mention Clinton-era policy of advocating the termination of Saddam's rule BAMN). What argument can the US use to justify it's aggression? Many people trot out the various UN resolutions that Saddam has ignored . . . but EVERYBODY knows this administration doesn't consider the UN to be important.

Available evidence to date doesn't support any claim of an Iraqi-sourced/supported threat to America . . . with the notable exception of the attempt to kill Bush, the Greater . . . but Slick Willie sent payback for that one.

As for Winston's question; I don't think anything as really changed. Iraq still needs a constitutional process, a constitution, representative government, infrastructure repair, and security . . . not necessarily in that order. The Coalition of Opposition is saying nice things at the moment . . . if Bush was smart . . . yeah I know . . . he would make Germany, France, Russia, (China), and the UN an offer they cannot refuse. A real coalition under UN banner takes over Baghdad and most of the Sunni triangle while the pretend coalition secures the North, South, and borders . . . while providing support to UN forces in the center. The CPA is dissolved and the blueprint for American corporate hegemony in Iraq is dissolved as well. The UN manages foreign affairs for Iraq while providing support for the Iraqi Governing Council as they try to piece together a reasonable domestic agenda.

 

[cyberserf]

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3706289/

Now they can live like Sodomites too.
That's democrocy for you. :disgust: