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November 13, 2003
The war in Iraq
America is clearly in very considerable trouble in Iraq. The terrorist war is not only intensifying but has now spread to the British-controlled south, with the killings of 27 people including 18 Italians. Now, President Bush has apparently performed a U-turn and is to move much faster to create an interim Iraqi administration. Is it all too late? For this is what he should have done at the beginning. One of the key errors was to assume that the Ba'athists were all untouchable. As a result, there has been no properly functioning Iraqi security force, and sluggish or non-existent civil administration. In addition, the Americans clearly have no idea what it takes to administer a country in such difficult conditions and have alienated the population by crass insensitivity. The result is the progressive slide into anarchy that we are witnessing, as ordinary Iraqis turn against the Americans and are recruited to the cause of those Arab terror regimes for whom it is imperative to strangle Iraqi freedom at birth. The British, who conducted a text-book operation in Basra, could have taught the Americans how to reconcile local diplomacy, intelligence-gathering and military force. Sure, the triangle around Baghdad was altogether tougher terrain, but the same principles should have been followed. Unfortunately, the US administration has been conducting its own internal war from the start, which has paralysed proper decision-making. Now it has placed itself and the rest of us in great peril. For if it does lose the peace in Iraq, it will be a catastrophe not just for Bush's re-election prospects but the whole defence of the west. It is already pretty disastrous, since the axis of terror is undoubtedly noting with satisfaction the signs of American weakness, disarray and panic (as are their gloating fellow-travellers in Britain and Europe). Bush needs to listen to what the British are trying to tell him -- not just ministers and officials, but the commanders on the ground -- about the day-to-day nitty-gritty as well as strategy. Posted by melanie at November 13, 2003
Comments
Anyone who has spent any amount of time in one of the more chaotic American cities (such as Philadelphia) could have seen this coming. High levels of violence, a resentful, mostly black population, a crumbling infrastructure, and a corrupt administration, and no one apparently with a clue what to do about it, this is just the American way of doing things. Posted by: Kev Cidle at November 13, 2003 05:36 PMLike London. Posted by: Julie Cleeveley at November 13, 2003 06:43 PMKev: Sounds like your describing Birmingham. As an ex-pat Brit who has lived in the States for the last twenty years, I find your observations a little superficial and they also have that lovely tone of "superiority". The African American percentage of the population is 11%. Can't tell you what percentage are "resentful", but they do include at least one Democratic Presidential contender. I may live in a protective bubble, but the closest I've come to physical violence in the last few years was on a train out of London one Christmas when some drunken lads and ladettes got into a bit of a barney. Regarding Iraq. Few Americans thought it would be easy or predictable, and it's going to take years for things to become truly stable. But let's face it, Germany and Japan was no post-war picnic and that was without a well-funded terror opposition on the ground. Try reading the Iraqi bloggers Healing Iraq or the Mesopotamian. They're a lot less pessimistic about the situation, though full of smart ideas as to how the Coalition can and must do better. Posted by: julie at November 13, 2003 06:47 PMAs always Melanie Phillip has noted our shortcomings in the US. We had hoped that the present administration knows what to do, however even though they know how to win a war, the duo of Cheney and Rumsfield had no clue on what to do next. Ever worse, they evidently do not listen to anyone. They have created a mess for the US. Will Bush listen to Blair. Tend to think he will listen. Posted by: jim comfort at November 13, 2003 07:06 PMJim Comfort. Good grief look at the mess of a Roadmap. Blair went the way of Europe and Bush listened. Re Julie's comments. I was quite obviously referring to Philadelphia, which I know well, and not the USA as a whole. The Afro-American population of that city is I would guess somewhere around 80%. Bad as it is, London pales into insignificance compared to its violence and decay. You may have been bothered by some lads and ladettes in London, but on my last visit to Philly 13 people were murdered in one night, including 8 in a massacre at a single house. hardly bears comparison I think. Posted by: Kev at November 13, 2003 07:38 PMOh please, Kev Cidle, this type of comment is not only jingoistic, it's also totally at odds with reality. A few facts about the U.S.: 1) Economy growing over 7% per annum 2) Productivity rates, incredibly, over 8% per annum. 3) Most of the world's dynamic industries, entrepreneurs, and corporations based in the U.S. 4) Virtually all of the world's significant inventions originate in the U.S. 5) GDP - over $37,500 per capita. A few facts about the UK: 1) Economy crawling along at a snail's pace. If this wasn't scary enough virtually its only visible means of support appears to be the housing market. 2) Productivity rates barely positive. 3) Relatively speaking, few of the world's major corporations (and a shameful dearth of middle-sized corporations), and none of the world's major industries based in the UK. 4) Virtually no significant inventions in the UK. 5) GDP - just over $25,000 per capita. In addition: one third of Britain's children are living in poverty; its "health" service is the envy of no-one except perhaps a few shanty towns in the third world; its railways and underground in London are a national disgrace; its police forces are shot through with rampant racism; its rates of crime are ridiculously high and getting higher; its armed forces are grossly underfunded; its standards of education are an international joke. Oh yes, Cidle, America has a burgeoning black middle-class stuffed full of successful doctors, lawyers, politicians and businessmen. Compare this with racist Britain where black people find it almost impossible to break into the mainstream of society. And please don't even get me started on Britain's disastrous colonial record. Posted by: Pooh at November 13, 2003 08:00 PMMs. Phillips is being alarmist about Iraq. America is not "in very considerable trouble in Iraq". The most damaging trouble for the US, if it happens, will be of the domestic political variety. I see Ms. Phillips has adopted the unfortunate and patronizing attitude of some British that, if only the neo-colonial Yanks would pay attention and learn from their betters (you Britons), things in Iraq would be ever so much better. It is true that Baghdad has problems and the adjacent “Sunni Triangle” is quite dangerous, evidently. But Mosul and Kirkuk - in the “American” area - are at least as safe and are prospering as well as Basra, in the “British" area. Posted by: George Peery at November 13, 2003 08:31 PMBrits patronizing Americans, who'd have thought? Posted by: Jeremy at November 13, 2003 09:29 PMPooh, so are you saying that 13 people were not murdered in Phialdelphia on one day of my last visit, including the massacre of 8 at one house? As for the rest of your so-called facts, they are risible. Significant inventions? let's see. CD player - UK?HOlland I could go on, but I won't The only think risible around here are your utterly inane arguments, Cidle. That you could not answer me point by point, just goes to show that you cannot refute my major premise that compared to the U.S., Britain is a pipsqueak nation in virtually every department one can mention. That you have to draw on a list of inventions which in most cases are between 60 and hundred years old just goes to prove how insane are your "arguments." Instead of steamships and cameras try technologies that matter now: think biotechnology, think Hi-Tech, think Microsoft, think Cisco, think Dell and GE. And have you totally forgotten that most of the world's desirable mass-consumer items are American - Hollywood, Coke, McDonalds etc. etc. If you are truly representative of the British nation it is no wonder your economy is crawling along at such a snail's pace and that your productivity rates so essential to the well-being of a nation are in the toilet; never mind that your entire national infrastructure which owes more to the 19th century than the 21st is collapsing and your education and health systems are the joke of not just the first world but the third world as well. And hey, let's not even mention your racist police forces, your armed forces which are so grossly underfunded, and your inherent racism which condems most black people to grinding poverty and social exclusion. In case you still don't understand, examine these facts: GDP United States - $37,500 per annum Productivity Rates U.S. - over 8% Economy Growth Rate U.S. - 7% Posted by: Pooh at November 13, 2003 11:45 PM (*sigh*) Posted by: George Peery at November 14, 2003 12:04 AM"one third of Britain's children are living in poverty" Correction: one third of Britains children are living in poverty* as defined in a recent report by Barnado's. *A relative measurment, £242 a week for a standard family, which most intelligent people would certainly not classify as living in poverty. Posted by: JRT at November 14, 2003 12:06 AM"its standards of education are an international joke." True, as is yours, which ours was modelled on in the sixties, stated clearly by Sir Graham Savage, the inventor of the expression 'comprehensive school', who was inspired to create them by a visit to the USA in the 1920s. He recognised that US High Schools had significantly lower academic performance than British grammar schools, but preferred the comprehensive high school system because it was more 'democratic', i.e. egalitarian. "think Microsoft, think Cisco, think Dell and GE." Wrong. All of Microsoft's (as with Dell etc) innovations through the product line are merely copies of other companies' work and build upon past inventions i.e, evolutionary, not revolutionary. Posted by: JRT at November 14, 2003 12:33 AMI'm just going to intervene here as a neutral Australian observer who has lived in both the US and Britain and say that I disagree with Ms Phillips's assessment of the situation in Iraq. Basra was always going to be an easier task than the Sunni areas of Saddam's tribal lands. That is utterly indisputable. Further, if you're going to start blaming American "ineptitude" then you'd better start explaining how it is that the areas controlled by the Marines in Iraq are pretty much peaceful. I would say though that the American soldiers in the Sunni areas would gain much more trusted respect by performing dismounted patrols and removing their sunglasses. Kev, your remarks do not offer any evidence as to the state of Iraq. Having been to Philadelphia I felt no less safe than I ever did in Shoreditch, Hounslow or New Cross. In fact, Philadelphia, and places like Cleveland, Sth Central LA and Pittsburgh are improving rapidly whereas many parts of London are crumbling rapidly. Posted by: Murph at November 14, 2003 04:12 AMCrikey, what's wrong with everybody here? We've got the Aussie media whingeing about the capabilities of the English rugby team, the British media whingeing about the Americans ability to run an occupation force in Iraq and some Americans whingeing about British inventiveness and productivity growth! Bloody hell! What about some Anglo-Saxon solidarity here? Why not save the bile for the Islamofascists and the spineless lefties and Europeans who support them. Posted by: Craig at November 14, 2003 05:26 AMCraig: I second that motion. But I think I speak for many who are sick and tired of the US being blamed for all the ills of the world. And, quite frankly, hoped for/expected more of YOUR attitude, and less of Kev's, post 9.11., given the graveness of what we are all up against. Posted by: Julie at November 14, 2003 06:51 AMThis is my last word on the subject. But as facts speak louder than words- I will address pooh's views on education by directing to the latest UNICEF league tables on educational standards within the OECD countries. 1st Korea the UK 7th the USA 18th It may that the UK's standards of education are an international joke. But where do these figures leave the USA? Very bad post. I agree with e.r! This has turned into an unseemly inter-familial petty squabble, which is getting rather silly, and will turn this prime blog into a primaeval bog if not checked. I hope that more turn out to welcome Dubya than turn out to jeer, not because he is the best President that America ever had, but because he is the one that the best allies we ever had chose as their President. And he's been invited by our Head of State to visit. Personally I have never been to any country in the world that is peopled by so many generous and hospitable people as the USA and the professional help I received during many visits there enhanced not only my life, but as a consequence, the lives of the people I served, viz. the British Public. I am not one those who insanely wish to poke holes in the umbrella under which all in the West live. In these stormy times I am grateful for both it's size and it's durability. Posted by: at November 15, 2003 12:47 AMMy apologies - forgot to sign the last posting at 12.47am Posted by: Frank Pulley at November 15, 2003 12:49 AMKev started this unseemly argument with his obnoxious first comment. "... this is just the American way of doing things." Posted by: kid charlemagne at November 15, 2003 02:10 AMI'm British, and am married to an American, and it seems to me that both countries live with appallingly bad stereotypes of each other. You'll hear plenty of ill-informed rubbish about the U.S over here, and there's something in Americans and Hollywood that loves to protray British people in a pretty negative way. (you want a bad guy, call London) Thankfully, the exact opposite of this - warmth and generosity - are deeper and stronger on both sides of the Atlantic. My heretical thought is this: beneath the surface differences, people all over the world are pretty similar. jesse smith. Posted by: jesse smith at November 15, 2003 12:59 PMJesse: Hollywood may go the British way for many of its villains, but these days it's more out of political correctness (i.e., studio heads are afraid to offend anyone but their friends- that's why they changed the terrorists in Sum of All Fears from what they actually were in the book -Islamic - to white neo-nazi types). However, as a Brit who landed (actually in Hollywood) many years ago, I found nothing but incredible admiration for Brits and also the generosity and warmth you spoke about. What I love most about the US is the general sense of optimism about life. Which is why, no matter how hard things get in this war against Islamo-fascism and on the ground in Iraq, the "can-do" spirit will ultimately overcome the "can't-do" spirit so prevalent in Europe. The biggest problem is that so much of the US press corps likes to think of itself as pseudo-European in that regard. What's most disappointing is the anti-americanism that seems to have consumed many people in Europe - partic. the Press. It predated Bush and seems to be nurtured in a way to unite the disparate countries of Europe into its EU superstate of mind. If you look closely, it's the step sister of anti-semitism, which, horrifyingly, is also on the rise in Europe, only this time it's "disguised" as anti-zionism. Posted by: Julie at November 15, 2003 06:49 PM"I was quite obviously referring to Philadelphia, which I know well, and not the USA as a whole. The Afro-American population of that city is I would guess somewhere around 80%. Bad as it is, London pales into insignificance compared to its violence and decay." I used to live in Philadelphia, and it is pretty much as Kev describes. Philly has been a mess for a long time. However, since then I have lived in Austin TX and now New York City, both of which are lively clean safe multicultural cities. I have also travelled to many other US cities, and Philly is an exception. (I could go into my theories of why, but they are not germane to this discussion.) Kev is trying to leverage Philly into some truism about the US in general, and it won't fly. Posted by: Yehudit at November 16, 2003 03:53 AM"1st Korea" "the USA 18th" Once upon a time in the kingdom of Heaven, God was missing for six days. Eventually, Michael the archangel found him, resting on the seventh day. He inquired of God. "Where have you been?" God sighed a deep sigh of satisfaction and proudly pointed downwards through the clouds, "Look, Michael. Look what I've made." Archangel Michael looked puzzled and said, "What is it?" "It's a planet," replied God, "and I've put Life on it. I'm going to call it Earth and it's going to be a great place of balance." "Balance?" inquired Michael, still confused. God explained, pointing to different parts of earth. "For example, northern Europe will be a place of great opportunity and wealth but cold and harsh while southern Europe is going to be poor but sunny and pleasant . "I have made some lands abundant in water and other lands parched deserts . "This one will be extremely hot and while this one will be very cold and covered in ice." The Archangel, impressed by God's work, then pointed to a land mass and said, "What's that one?" "Ah," said God. "That's America -- the most glorious place on earth. There are beautiful beaches, deserts, streams, hills, and forests. The people from America are going to be handsome, modest, intelligent and humorous and they are going to be found traveling the world. They will be extremely sociable, hardworking and high achieving, and they will be known throughout the world as diplomats and carriers of peace." Michael gasped in wonder and admiration but then proclaimed, "What about balance, God? You said there would be balance!!!" God replied wisely, "Wait until you see the idiots I put in Washington DC." 1) Economy growing over 7% per annum 2) Productivity rates, incredibly, over 8% per annum. 3) Most of the world's dynamic industries, entrepreneurs, and corporations based in the U.S. 4) Virtually all of the world's significant inventions originate in the U.S. 5) GDP - over $37,500 per capita.
If the US is so entepreneurial, why is it manufacturing in China and not in the US. Why does Craig Barrett of Intel worry about the US future in hi-tech ? The US economy is constrained by its need to have China buy its T-Bills and Bonds, and is going to face problems as the dollar declines. As for all these inventions, there have been very few in the automotive sector, in consumer electronics the Us is nowhere; and technologies like LCD displays were invented in Birmingham.......if General Electric did not need SNECMA of Frace to built its engines for the Boeing 737 jet it could use decent ones from Rolls-Royce. Every status symbol in the US is imported. Posted by: Peter Williamson at November 18, 2003 09:17 PMAs an indication of what the Democrats are saying to each other States-side, an American pal posted this to me recently. Unfair and scurrilous? Accomplishments of President George Bush: I spent the U.S. surplus and effectively bankrupted the U.S. Treasury. I shattered the record for the largest annual deficit in U.S. history. I set an economic record for most private bankruptcies filed in a 12-month I set the all-time record for the biggest drop in the history of the U.S. My record for environmental issues is the least of my concerns and my people I am the first president in U.S. history to enter office with a criminal I set the all-time record for most days on vacation in any one year period. After taking-off the entire month of August 2001, I then presided over the I attacked and overtook two countries, promised to rebuild them and have not I am supporting development of a "Tactical Bunker Buster" nuke, a WMD. I am getting our troops killed, under the lie of WMD components, then I set the record for most campaign fund-raising trips by a U.S. president. In my first year in office over 2-million Americans lost their jobs and that I set the all-time record for most foreclosures in a 12-month period. I appointed more convicted criminals to my administration than any president I set the record for fewest press conferences than any president since the I signed more laws and executive orders effectively amending or ignoring the I presided over the biggest energy crisis in U.S. history and refused to I presided over the highest gasoline prices in U.S. history and refused to I have cut health care benefits for war veterans and support a cut in duty I allowed non-compete oil contracts to go to my VP's company (where he is I have set the all-time record for most people worldwide to simultaneously I've dissolved more international treaties than any president in U.S. I've made my presidency the most secretive and unaccountable of any in U.S. I'm proud that the members of my cabinet are the richest of any I am the first president in U.S. history to have almost all 50 states of the I presided over the biggest corporate stock market fraud of any market in I am the first president in U.S. history to order a pre-emptive attack and I created the largest governmental department bureaucracy in the history of I set the all-time record for biggest annual budget spending increases, more I am the first president in U.S. history to have the United Nations remove I am the first president in U.S. history to have the United Nations remove I removed more checks and balances, and have the least amount of I rendered the entire United Nations viewpoints irrelevant. I withdrew the U.S. from the World Court of Law. I refused to allow inspectors access to U.S. "prisoners of war" (detainees) I am the all-time U.S. and world record-holder for receiving the most My largest lifetime campaign contributor, and one of my best friends, I have spent more money on polls and focus groups than any president in U.S. I garnered the most sympathy for the U.S. after the World Trade Center I am actively working on a policy of "disengagement" creating the most I am the first to have a majority of Europeans (71%) view my presidency as I am the first president in history to have the people of South Korea feel I changed U.S. policy to allow convicted criminals to be awarded government I set an all-time record for the number of administration appointees who I failed to fulfill my pledge to capture Osama Bin Laden, dead or alive. I failed to capture Saddam Hussein. My family is very close with the Saudi Royal family, and have been for I failed to capture the anthrax killer who tried to murder the leaders of Following the World Trade Center attack I have successfully prevented any I removed more freedoms and civil liberties for Americans than any president In a little over two years, I created the most divided country in decades, I entered my office with the strongest economy in U.S. history and have Records and References I have at least one conviction for drunk driving in Maine. My Texas driving I was AWOL from the National Guard. I refuse to take a drug test or even answer any questions about drug use. All records of my tenure as Governor of Texas are now in my father's All records of SEC investigations into insider trading or bankrupt companies All records or minutes from meetings that I, or my Vice-President, attended
Peculiar travel suggestions are dancing lessons from God. Posted by: Goldberg Myla at January 20, 2004 04:17 PM |
