Chaos in War's Wake

[pritchke]

http://www.macleans.ca/xta-doc2/2003...er/58455.shtml

A few paragraphs: I only posted a few paragraphs but there is more on the disagreements with aid specialist and generals, the way Chalabi is viewed, and problems in Afghanistan and how Iraq could be more difficult.

3rd paragraph:
The Americans, meanwhile, mainly have more fighting forces in the pipeline: the 4th Infantry Division and the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment have begun rolling into Iraq, with the 1st Cavalry Division on the way from Texas. As yet, though, there are no plans to field civilian or military police units; the official view is that chaos and plundering are predictable in the wake of military action, and things will eventually settle down. Others aren't so sure. "There was a lot of talk about breaking the grip of the Iraqi regime," one diplomatic observer in Kuwait told Maclean's, "but the administration hasn't really got a handle on what to do next. It's a rudderless ship -- the focus was all about removing Saddam Hussein, all about military thrust. The complete lack of a plan for civil control proves that very little thought was given to the law-and-order issues that would surely follow the war. And what's especially galling, of course, is that American officials talk endlessly about providing a bright new future for Iraqis."

8th paragraph:
The Chalabi issue is one on which the U.S. and Britain disagree, though not to the same extent as in the debate over exactly when and how the United Nations should be brought into the process of forming the new Iraqi government. That could change, however, if the hawks in the Bush administration go too far in promoting their man. "If we could secure greater UN involvement in the near future," says a source in Britain's foreign office, "the Chalabi question might balance itself out, because other voices would be heard and presumably compromise would follow. But if the UN's role continues to be deferred, pushing too hard with Chalabi will set the warning bells ringing. The perception will be that anointing him will be to the disadvantage of other Iraqi figures who deserve a role in the interim authority."

last paragraph:
For the Bush administration and the British government, a long hot summer lies ahead. It'll be lonely and expensive, too, because until they allow the UN an appropriate role in Iraq, neither the World Bank nor the International Monetary Fund can help fund reconstruction. Still, for Bush and Blair, dealing with that challenge is a holiday compared to the mission confronting their soldiers. To the grunts and the squaddies goes the task of trying to bottle up the rampaging genies of chaos and destruction. They can be forgiven for wondering if their political masters will heed the chorus of advice from around the world: it's time to start rubbing the lamps of peace and international co-operation, and rubbing them hard.

[ 04-16-2003, 12:37 PM: Message edited by: pritchke ]

Had to laugh at the last paragraph [img]smile.gif[/img] "allow the UN a proper role" hehehe reminded me of a political cartoon in the paper the other day..with Bush/Blair forget which, handing the UN or someone a roll of toilet paper as "Their roll in the rebuilding of Iraq". I thought it was funny [img]smile.gif[/img] ahh well, of course the UN will be involved in some capacity Im sure.

[pritchke]

LOL, political cartoons and humour are funny no matter which side of the fence you sit. Also a great way to reduce stress and go about your day as long as they are not taken personally, which they shouldn't be.

[Sir Taliesin]

It's been reported that most of the new fighting units that were in the pipeline have been turned around, since they aren't needed. The 4th Id was already on the ground and they my be the main stay behind force on the ground in Iraq for some time to come. I also know that new Military Police units are on their way if not already there (one of our head honcho's at work, son is in a National Guard MP unit from NC and he left early last week. Of course, I suspect that all the MP units in the whole US army wouldn't be enough. After all Baghdad has some thing like 5 million people, very comparable to New york, which has a police force of something like 30,000. I also read that Italy is getting ready to dispatch 3000 police and aid workers. Maybe some of our coalition partners that didn't supply troops, might be supplying police and aid workers.