Coalition should be only Iraqi reconstruction
France, Germany and Russia seem to feel like they are entitled
to participation in the reconstruction of Iraq, including
a say in the development of an interim government. This
seems to me like a “friend” continually slapping
you in the face and then insisting on a kiss. There are
certainly masochistic individuals in our society who are
turned on by this sort of behavior, but it has no place
in international relationships.
First of all, after having had such close ties with Saddam’s
Baptist government, the above-mentioned countries would
surely be viewed with suspicion by most of the Iraqis who
are trying so hard to create a workable government. Secondly,
in not only flatly refusing to aid in the liberation of
Iraq, but continuing to rage against it all through the
struggle, they most assuredly have forfeited a right to
consider themselves friends of Iraqi freedom, and shouldn’t
be allowed to suddenly act a duplicitous role as rescuers
of a seriously oppressed people.
Thirdly, and certainly most importantly from an American
foreign policy viewpoint, these countries have all aided
and abetted the enemy, so to speak, by undermining U.N.
economic sanctions, supplying materials for forbidden weapons
development, and intentionally fracturing both the U.N.
and NATO with the old “divide and conquer” ploy.
France has come right out and says that this policy was
designed as a “counterweight” to U.S. strength.
In other words, we are dealing with a country which would
rather see weapons of mass destruction used against innocent
populations throughout the world than to cede the position
of “super-power” to the U.S.
This
would perhaps be understandable if the U.S. had ever been
seriously imperialistic, but we never have been and the
world knows it. France, on the other hand, has been seriously
imperialistic throughout its history, and only relinquished
its hold on many African nations when it no longer had the
power to suppress independence movements on that continent.
They still have a chip on their shoulder because of the
loss of past “glory.” In fact, their very moving
national anthem has become a joke.
It goes without saying that Germany has always been imperialist
since the days of the Holy Roman Empire, which wasn’t
Roman at all, but very German. Germany wants nothing more
than to re-establish European imperialism for itself, and
since that cannot be done militarily in the modern world,
they seek to dominate the European Union through economic
control.
And then there is Russia. Even though we really want to
maintain good relationships with Russia and help them struggle
into democracy, this is also a country which still rankles
from having lost a great deal of its empire and which resents
the United States’ power while really needing our
assistance. Repaying assistance with supplying technology
to the enemy which can get our young military personnel
killed is not my idea of behavior which should be rewarded.
Jealousy is understandable. It is a fairly prevalent human
emotion, and the United States does, indeed have the best
standard of living, the most freedom, and the most effective
military in the world. We are both hated and envied because
of it and we understand that. We do not, however, sanction
that petty emotion as being a sufficient reason for countries
that are supposed to be our allies to undermine us at every
turn.
I believe that only countries who have been involved in
the “coalition of the willing” should be allowed
to participate in rebuilding Iraq’s government and
economy. When nations have suspect motives, and have proven
it, they shouldn’t be allowed to establish any degree
of power in a country whose politics are so complex without
other countries’ “agendas.” Iraq can only
get on its feet if aided by those who are truly interested
in international stability. DBJ
