If you would like to understand why the war in Iraq (and coincidentally, Afghanistan) goes on without end, We Meant Well: How I Helped Lose the Battle for the Hearts and Minds of the Iraqi People is definitely the book for you. Just put yourself in the situation we have placed the average Iraqi, and understanding will flow. You wouldn't take this kind of neglect and abuse either.
Very highly recommended.
Article comments
1 - Dr Joseph S Maresca
Quote:
"All of these people are assigned to distribute massive mounds of Your Money in a poorly-researched and badly-managed effort to convert Iraq from an ancient tribal culture into a clone of suburban America while mired in a war with cultural and religious overtones."
Response: We cannot convert Iraq into a clone of suburban America. Whatever we do must have the concurrence of the people who actually live in the area. This was Machiavelli's important principle of military engagement and its aftermath.
We can assist with installing brand new accounting systems to track the oil revenues, as well as municipal accounting systems to run major cities/municipalities with the oil revenues. Next, we could install brand new systems to provide social services like education, medical, recreational etc. Essentially, this is what Saudi Arabia attempted to do with somemodicum of success.
Our attention should be directed to the development of small businesses which serve the local community, as well as exports to foreign markets over time.
2 - Yonatan
"The FSOs justify all of this frantic activity to their superiors via fabricated reports (as directed and edited by their superiors) through claiming spectacular successes with projects intended to meet local needs; in reality, the outcomes constitute failures that even the local residents understand to be exercises in lavishly expensive foolishness."
This is an effective summary of Soviet 5 Year Plans. Everyone reporting upwards saying all is well, with increasing positive spin as the message travels. Meanwhile, the people on the ground starve.
3 - Realist
@Dr Joe:
The function of the FSOs in Iraq was to stimulate small business activities. Unfortunately, someone's idea of a small business didn't match the needs of the Iraqi people very well.
4 - Popsiq
The Iraq/Afghan Wars are going to provide grist for such writers for years to come. If the Vietnam Experience was a result of ignorance and naivety, the latter wars are rooted in malevolence and pure error.
"We Meant Well"??? Just like Heinrich Himmler did.
5 - Strider
Perhaps at some future date this book will be entered into evidence in the war-crimes and/or crimes-against-humanity trials of Cheney, Bush, Rumsfeld, Rice and others.
6 - Igor
Iraq rebuilding was a huge failure of capitalism and market economy.