WSJ: Iraq's Compact With America -- A Seven Point Plan

Wall Street Journal ^ | August 3, 2005 | ZALMAY KHALILZAD

[OESY]

While Iraq has elected a transitional government and is making progress in drafting a constitution, it faces a clever and brutal terrorist threat, and the profound challenge of overcoming the political, social and economic legacy of Saddam Hussein's rule. In the past 10 days, I have discussed with Iraqi leaders a set of ideas about what is needed to set Iraq on the right trajectory. We have agreed on seven points.

• First, Iraq needs a "national compact" enshrined in its constitution. One of the biggest challenges facing Iraqis is overcoming the loss of trust among its communities....

• Second, the Iraqi government and the Coalition will work together to isolate and defeat the terrorists and Baathists who want the restoration of the old regime....

There is a legitimate alternative: joining in a national compact enshrined in a constitution that protects the rights of all communities....

Our strategy is to work through political means to mobilize the people of central and western Iraq to support the new democratic order....

• Third, the U.S. and the Iraqi government are seeking to encourage the region's leaders to address problems in a new cooperative spirit and to pressure those who continue to foment instability....

• Fourth, the U.S. will work with the Iraqi government to improve the capacity of Iraqi ministries....

• Fifth, we will seek to increase economic opportunity. Not enough emphasis has been placed on developing the private sector....

• Sixth, the U.S. will work with the Iraqi government to set the conditions for a successful election -- with full participation of all communities....

• Seventh, I will be engaging across the board to assist the Iraqi government to achieve our common objectives and mobilize more support by other countries....

[OESY]

Mr. Khalilzad is the U.S. ambassador to Iraq.

[OESY]

The American ambassador, Zalmay Khalilzad, Monday.

[Valin]

bump

[SueRae]

I wish them well and look forward to reading about the ongoing process. 'pressure on neighboring states who foment instability'....The guy is truly a diplomat. This action alone would resolve most of the obstacles.

[joesnuffy]

The future with America is all about who is President and who
runs congress and the senate..

Just like the treaties the 'White Father' (of the moment) made
they were often broken as soon as a new WF came to power..

c'est la guerre

[OESY]

[ValenB4]

Is this guy for real? "The US and the Iraqi government" will do this, that, the other, and so on and so on. Yeah right. Why haven't any of these things been successfully implemented yet, after 2 1/2 years? What could they possibly do differently that they haven't tried before? All of these supposedly great solutions are nothing more than top-to-bottom government planning and management, things that don't work during peace time let alone during a war.

[metermike]

American Government/military have done little thus far to defeat the insurgents.If they want to defeat the insurgents and save money and time in Iraq its simple.Employ the people of Iraq.One cruise missile=one million dollars that could put 5000 Iraqi's to work for one month instead of killing one desperate Iraqi trying to kill Americans for money.How many cruise missiles were used so far?It would cost 200 million dollars a month to employ one million people and that would fuel the economy to lower employment rate similar to the U.S.A.Instead of the rate today of 30-70% depending on the region.It cost the American taxpayer six billion a month for this occupation it would cost that a year to end the insurgency and occupation.

[oldleft]

Would you want to be the press operator who just found out you lost your $20/hr job to an Iraqi? I used to be a press operator making burner cans for missiles and I can tell you it wouldn't do a lot for my support of the war.

[Valin]

Why haven't any of these things been successfully implemented yet, after 2 1/2 years?

Ever read anything about the early years of our republic? And when was the right to vote given to women? How long did it take to do away with Jim Crow?

[ValenB4]

No, why don't you educate me?

[billbears]

Ever read anything about the early years of our republic?

Refresh my memory. Didn't we have an occupation force 'helping' us in the formation of what government they thought was best during the years preceding our independence? How'd that work out for 'em?

[patriciaruth]

Well, the Brits have been good allies this last century, so bread cast upon the waters does come back after many days.

[patriciaruth]

Sorry, I don't want our defense weapons built where there would be a high risk of sabotage or deliberate poor workmanship on a vital part by a mole with an agenda.

[billbears]

And your point? By that standard 100 years from now the US will be a good ally to the Islamic superstate that will exist. How heartening...

[Valin]

My point is the start of the Republic was not a smooth road with no bumps. And we had a tradition of democracy unlike the Iraqis. Also we weren't coming out of the rule of a dictator like Saddam who basically destroyed that country.
Will they be successful? I don't know, but I think they just might. And if they are...oh boy NOTHING in that part of the world will ever be the same.

[gpapa]

It is vital that Iraqis build institutions that all communities can have confidence in--that are not instruments of revenge or fiefdoms of patronage of one group or another.....and opposing corruption

A couple of moments of truth in the ambassador's op-ed. Corruption is rampant at all levels of Iraqi society, even in the ranks of the interim government. Judges are as corrupt as everyone else and the judicial system is a mess. It will take a long time, if ever, for the nation formerly known as the Republic of Fear, to create a functioning, stable society in whatever form it chooses. IMO, the only group in Iraq that has a good chance of success are the Kurds, who have over ten years experience in creating a functional society, a working parliament, and the best and most loyal fighters, the peshmerga, to protect their turf.