Exporting Switzerland, The model Iraq needs to follow.

National Review Online ^ | 4/23/03 | Jonah Goldberg

[Burkeman1]

After a brief, almost bloodless war we have an ethnically and religiously divided nation. Mischievous neighbors on all sides can claim common cause with one or more of the major ethnic and religious groups vying for power. The largest ethnic faction has strong cultural ties to a powerful and expansionist neighbor, and is feared by other great powers nearby. Certain groups within the country are taking orders from religious authorities outside their borders in an attempt to impose a state reflecting their theology. Other nationalist radicals and many minorities are determined not to allow the creation of anything other than a secular state, because that's the only way to guarantee their own security.

Iraq 2003? Nope. Switzerland 1847.

[Burkeman1]

I have heard the same things about Switzerland. I bet she is the beneficiary of many American tourists who will avoid France and Germany in the coming summer. But Goldberg is a lune to suggest that we can create such a system in Iraq out of thin air and without massive occupation that includes control of the educational systems and outright dictatorship for several decades.

[Burkeman1]

Well we are there and we should strive for an "out" that will do the most justice to the Iraqis while minimizing our involvement. I don't have the answer. But Goldberg's flippant, and frankly, silly school boy suggestion that we build a Switz canton system magically is just astounding. Oh really Jonah? Why not do that everywhere? What a genius! If only the British and Russians thought of that! Idiots and half educated dimwits write for NR nowadays.

[Burkeman1]

I agree completely with your analysis. And I think we will have to be there a long long time. What I don't like is how conservative critics of this war who said the exact the same thing you just said were attacked with lies by neocons who advocated this war in the first place.

[Burkeman1]

Elections that we so "rigged" that a prime minister was assassinated for not agreeing with the military. Ok.

[Burkeman1]

How in the heck do we avoid identifying with one ethnic group? It is my understanding that Sadaam brought in Sunnis into Baghdad to lesson the Shi'te majority. He coralled Shi'tes into squalid quarters in crowed areas of Baghdah and gave property to Sunnis. How do we resolve this one issue? There must be thousands like this all over Iraq.

[Servant of the Nine]

Elections that we so "rigged" that a prime minister was assassinated for not agreeing with the military. Ok.

No, that was in the 30s. We had nothing to do with it.

So9

[Burkeman1]

It was in 1930 and we didn't have anything to do with it.

[Phaedrus]

ping ...

[betty boop]

Phaedrus, didn't you suggest the Swiss model as the most appropriate model for Iraq a couple weeks back, here at FR? I guess JG must have read your post. :^) Thanks for the ping to an enlightening article!

[Burkeman1]

A golden oldie from the boy genius at NRO.