Posted on 01/12/2007 5:50:23 AM PST by PDR
The American mission in Iraq must succeed. Our goal--promoting a stable, accountable democracy in the heart of the Middle East--cannot be achieved by purely military means.
Iraqis need to establish a civil society. Without the support of mediating civic and social associations--the informal ties that bind us together--no government can long remain stable, and no cohesive nation can be maintained. To establish a civil society, Iraqis must rebuild their basic infrastructure. Iraqis must take control of their destiny by rebuilding houses, stores, schools, roads, highways, mosques and churches.
But the constant threat of violence, combined with a high unemployment rate estimated between 30% and 50%, fundamentally undermines that effort. This not only sustains the fertile breeding ground for terrorist recruiters but has the same corrosive effect as it would in any city--raising the likelihood of further violence, civic decay and a crippling sense of powerlessness.
A massive effort must be made to engage in a well organized plan to rebuild Iraq. The goal: an infrastructure to support and encourage a strong, stable civil society.
(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...
((((PING)))))
New Orleans and Iraq both need a Republican government and most of all need a Giuliani
Given the generally low quality of NO's human capital it would be hard to recreate NYC's successes there - but vast improvements could be made nonetheless by implementing the NYC model.
I will vote for Rundy Giuliani if he is nominated. Then I will prepare myself for two more David Souters at SCOTUS.
BTTT
ping
And you'll get another Scalia, if he or she exists, or a Roberts or Alito. :-)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.