The Reconstruction of Iraq
Yesterday, The White House announced that only Coalition members would be involved in the reconstruction of Iraq. In its normal fashion the in the British media it was depicted as another example of American isolationism & pursuit of self-interest. Quite why, you correspondent isn’t sure – maybe another glass will make me more insightful.
For one, I am absolutely delighted that the Axis of Weasel will have no hand in either the shaping of the new democratic Iraq or indeed in its physical reconstruction. Nothing raises a bigger jeer in Free Market Towers than the sight on some simpering euro-trash ‘spokesperson’ complaining…………again – seriously I’d have thought that they have something better to do, like rebuild their own economies – or will that take Coalition Aid as well? But, for example, why should France have a hand in the rebuilding say, port facilities when their own ports are being blockaded by their own fishermen – no, its kinder to let them sort themselves out first before we ask them to do anything difficult – like stand up for democracy, freedom & justice.
The truth is that Germany & France are rather isolated on this issue – notwithstanding the BBC’s reporting of the story (which I am still seething at) on the ten o’clock news last night. Given that the UK is going to support President Bush on this, what about the other European countries?
The likely victor in Spanish elections next March, Mariano Rajoy, could prove as stubbornly pro-NATO & American as the incumbent Jose Maria Aznar – who supported the Coalition & whose fallen we remember. So, I think that we can take it that Spain will support this policy – a toast of a glass of sherry for our Spanish allies.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (likely to stay in office in 2006), who staunchly supports the American/UK actions in Iraq – whose fallen we also remember – is likely to support the policy – a toast of a large glass of robust Italian red to our Italian allies.
What of the Russian Bear – after the recent “free elections” & with continuing problems in Chechnya, it is merely posturing. Russia is in fact eternally grateful for the Coalitions invasions of Afghanistan & Iraq - as it takes pressure off them in their battles of with Islamic Fundamentalism. For a moment please recall that when Clinton attempted to castigate Putin over Chechnya, the ex-KGB man reminded him that,
“As long as we are fighting them, you don’t have to.”
Most of this protest is as usual, a function of medias imagination – clearly too many sun dried tomatoes have clouded their collective judgement – as usual. I am surprised that this is such an issue, given that night after night no mention that life it fast returning to normal for most Iraqis & the vast majority of the country is starting to revel in its new found freedoms – no story in that is there?
The final test here is of course what is best the people of Iraq & I strongly suspect that the nations that comprise the Coalition have more than enough expertise & capacity to expedite this reconstruction – we don’t need Germany or France for as Sqdn Leader James “Biggles” Bigglesworth DSO DFC once remarked,
“An Englishman is worth two Huns & three Frenchies”
Comments
Let us hope life never returns to "normal" in Iraq ever again. I mean, for the last few decades "normal" has been living under the yoke of an evil murdurous tyrant. Lets hear it for breaking the status quo!
Posted by: Darth Bobo | December 12, 2003 2:46 PM
You omitted mention of Canada, which is also excluded from prime contracts. Since they are changing from Chretien to Martin today, they seem to be the most interesting case.
Posted by: TM Lutas | December 12, 2003 3:24 PM
Canada actually pledged Cdn $170 million to reconstruction in Iraq. As well, a handful of Canadian officers actually served in the war. Although in his deceitful posturing way Chretien opposed the war, the Canadians never withdrew the officers seconded to American units who went into Iraq. So Canada has a case that it should not be included with the weasels on this.
Posted by: Tom Cohoe | December 12, 2003 7:32 PM
I'd be in favor of giving Canada a pass on this prohibition although their biased media reporting on the combat portion of the war made me seethe. Canada had NO military to send to Iraq having deployed 5000 soldiers to Afghanistan. Now that Chritien is history, I believe we will return to good relationship with our neighbors to the north.
Posted by: jane m | December 12, 2003 11:39 PM
We were just waiting for the crying to begin, knowing when the war started that they would not be welcomed in the rebuilding. That was as predictable as the left crying out that Bush could have found saddam 'any time' and chose to do it now to help boost him politically.
I never realized that there were this many stupid asshats in the world. I miss the days of ignorance and bliss.
Death to saddam and all the asshats I say!!! Lets give the french something to do....we'll pay them a stipend to use the firing squads to take care of these fools.
Posted by: radtec | December 16, 2003 2:53 PM