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A Somalia flashback in Iraq.

There's a great deal of debate over "velvet glove" vs. "iron fist" tactics in Iraq, but in this case, I'd have to advise a serious show of force. No amount of new schools or hospitals are going to influence the individuals that are capable of such hatred and violence, and force is still the major currency in that country. Use it. Not conducting a retaliatory event will invite further attack and more overt hostility. Meanwhile, build the schools. Drop the hammer. Set up the institutions of Democracy. Lock down the troublemakers. Fix the electrical grid. Conduct raids.

It's going to take a concerted and judicious combination of both approaches to see this country through to sucessful representative government. This is a horrible bump along that road. I don't envy the people that are working their asses off to make this happen, but I believe that they can do it.

Posted by Bill at March 31, 2004 09:37 AM | TrackBack (0)