CaptnKirk
Lifer
- Jul 25, 2002
- 10,053
- 0
- 71
Six Month Revival Plan
Washington Post - Clip:
(I want to emphasize the cost here - $ !00 Billion over 5 years - see text)
Tha terrorists who destroyed the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad last week not only blew up the most important symbol of international involvement in rebuilding Iraq. They also fueled growing doubts among the American people about the Bush administration's contention that Iraq is already on the way to recovery. In truth, Iraq is staggering ahead, at best, and the administration has yet to show that it has a realistic plan to produce tangible progress over the next six months.
It will take more than White House vows to stay the course. What is needed is a detailed plan for restoring Iraq's security and economic viability, backed by the resources that are required to achieve it. This has to be accompanied by credible steps toward self-government, carried out in close coordination with the U.N. The patience and good will of most Iraqis have not yet been exhausted, but they won't last forever.
The starting point must be greatly improved security for the Iraqi people, the international-aid workers and the United States occupation forces. More American troops would help, in particular intelligence specialists, special forces, civic action units, engineers and military police. Soldiers from other countries, including Muslim countries, are also needed. Currently, more than 90 percent of international troops inside Iraq come from either the United States or Britain.
Equally important is a larger police presence to control violent street crime. Iraqis who see their possessions pillaged, their sons threatened with armed robbery and their daughters fearful of rape will not look kindly on the American occupation. International police forces need to be recruited, ideally from Arab countries like Jordan and Morocco, while more Iraqi police are being trained. At least 5,000 international police officers will have to be urgently recruited.
Economic revival must begin with reliable supplies of water and electricity, without which neither normal life nor business activity can proceed. It will take $16 billion over the next four years to ensure safe and sustained water supplies. Another $13 billion will be required over a comparable period to rebuild Iraq's patchwork electric-power network. Hospitals and health care are near collapse and will take billions to revive. Six out of 10 Iraqi workers are without jobs, and six million live in chronic poverty.
According to the best estimates, rebuilding Iraq is likely to cost some $20 billion a year for the next five years. It will be some time before the Iraqi oil industry is back to full strength. And other large donors have been reluctant to contribute until agreement has been reached on a strengthened U.N. role. So most of that money will have to come from the United States. That's a lot to ask from American taxpayers, but far less than the cost of stationing large numbers of American combat troops in Iraq indefinitely.
Broader international support will not materialize until Washington changes its Lone Ranger approach. Last week's decision to seek a new U.N. resolution is encouraging. But unless Washington is willing to accept a much larger U.N. role in developing independent Iraqi political institutions, other countries will continue to hold back. It is appropriate for America and Britain to remain in command of international military and police forces.
Without a stronger U.N. political presence, however, the Governing Council recently appointed by Washington risks being perceived as America's puppet. America has not yet lost the peace in Iraq, but it could in the next six months if the Iraqi people do not see concrete benefits from the American occupation
Washington Post - Clip:
(I want to emphasize the cost here - $ !00 Billion over 5 years - see text)
Tha terrorists who destroyed the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad last week not only blew up the most important symbol of international involvement in rebuilding Iraq. They also fueled growing doubts among the American people about the Bush administration's contention that Iraq is already on the way to recovery. In truth, Iraq is staggering ahead, at best, and the administration has yet to show that it has a realistic plan to produce tangible progress over the next six months.
It will take more than White House vows to stay the course. What is needed is a detailed plan for restoring Iraq's security and economic viability, backed by the resources that are required to achieve it. This has to be accompanied by credible steps toward self-government, carried out in close coordination with the U.N. The patience and good will of most Iraqis have not yet been exhausted, but they won't last forever.
The starting point must be greatly improved security for the Iraqi people, the international-aid workers and the United States occupation forces. More American troops would help, in particular intelligence specialists, special forces, civic action units, engineers and military police. Soldiers from other countries, including Muslim countries, are also needed. Currently, more than 90 percent of international troops inside Iraq come from either the United States or Britain.
Equally important is a larger police presence to control violent street crime. Iraqis who see their possessions pillaged, their sons threatened with armed robbery and their daughters fearful of rape will not look kindly on the American occupation. International police forces need to be recruited, ideally from Arab countries like Jordan and Morocco, while more Iraqi police are being trained. At least 5,000 international police officers will have to be urgently recruited.
Economic revival must begin with reliable supplies of water and electricity, without which neither normal life nor business activity can proceed. It will take $16 billion over the next four years to ensure safe and sustained water supplies. Another $13 billion will be required over a comparable period to rebuild Iraq's patchwork electric-power network. Hospitals and health care are near collapse and will take billions to revive. Six out of 10 Iraqi workers are without jobs, and six million live in chronic poverty.
According to the best estimates, rebuilding Iraq is likely to cost some $20 billion a year for the next five years. It will be some time before the Iraqi oil industry is back to full strength. And other large donors have been reluctant to contribute until agreement has been reached on a strengthened U.N. role. So most of that money will have to come from the United States. That's a lot to ask from American taxpayers, but far less than the cost of stationing large numbers of American combat troops in Iraq indefinitely.
Broader international support will not materialize until Washington changes its Lone Ranger approach. Last week's decision to seek a new U.N. resolution is encouraging. But unless Washington is willing to accept a much larger U.N. role in developing independent Iraqi political institutions, other countries will continue to hold back. It is appropriate for America and Britain to remain in command of international military and police forces.
Without a stronger U.N. political presence, however, the Governing Council recently appointed by Washington risks being perceived as America's puppet. America has not yet lost the peace in Iraq, but it could in the next six months if the Iraqi people do not see concrete benefits from the American occupation
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