In a very real sense, the United States is caught on the horns of a dilemma in Iraq. On the one hand, if the U.S. goes it alone, or almost alone, in its quest to rebuild Iraq up from a state run by a despot to a country based on democracy, or as much democracy as the Iraqis will tolerate, the Americans run the risk of alienating a good segment of the country who will drag their heels and demand positions of influence in any future government; hence not a true democracy. On the other hand, if the United States slips quietly out the back door and leaves the rebuilding of Iraq to the United Nations, with its anti-American bias and its penchant for looking the other way, the Iraqis might find themselves embroiled in tribal warfare that will unleash all manner of atrocities. In this, the land of Abraham, the much-respected and revered Hebrew patriarch and prophet lauded by Jews, Christians and Muslims equally, born in relatively comfortable quarters in Ur of the Chaldees, on the Euphrates River, inter-faith [Shi's, Sunni and Kurds] rivalry is not far from the surface. If the country is not structured along lines that will respect each of these groups in a manner that represents them fairly, then Iraqis are in for a long, long night of despair. If the country is allowed to tumble into internecine fighting, then out of it all might emerge another Saddam Hussein or an equally disgusting person with a vision that might appeal to the majority. Unlike Saddam Hussein who won power via a coup, the next Saddam might take power along the lines that Fidel Castro did in Cuba.
Let us hope that the United States is capable of controlling the rebuilding of Iraq and that the United Nations is kept in the background and given the job of distributing humanitarian aid. The United Nations has shown itself to be rather ineffective in things that demand decisions upon which matters of grave importance are based. The UN, on the other hand, has shown itself to be capable of exercising humanitarian aid programmes with some degree of competency.
Canada, the country with the wimpy government that turned its back on its best friend and neighbour at a time of need, might have a role to play in Iraq provided any role stays far away from the military. It has been suggested in this space previously that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police would be a good match for Iraq and a splendid outfit on which to base a national police force. The Mounties have an enviable record as a national police force [perhaps not so enviable as provincial or municipal forces, not the Force's primary purpose] and know much about policing a country that is divided along ethnic, religious, political, and cultural lines. In Canada, it is called multiculturalism but in truth is a programme initiated by the socialist Liberals to embrace diversity while trying to meld conformity. In the decades since it was first foisted upon Canadians, it has not worked well and has spawned religious, cultural, ethnic and political divisions that have set community against community. The Mounties would fit well in Iraq and probably would feel quite at home. Haiti, while not Iraq, is an example of how well the RCMP can and has done abroad in building [or rebuilding] a national police force. The American Federal Bureau of Investigation would not do as first it is not a police force but an investigative body and second it would be seen to be overly secretive and far too American to be trusted by the Iraqis. Would Scotland Yard fare well in Iraq? Perhaps, possibly but not probably. The Yard is an excellent force that has a long history of tackling tough jobs; however, Iraq should not be on its list of future tough jobs because, like the American FBI, it would be seen to be too close to the British invaders and thus, unacceptable.
So, the United States has to sit down and think carefully about how best to rebuild Iraq in a manner that will appeal to the Iraqis while at the same time permit the U.S. to instil a democratic form of government that will be respected by all Iraqis. It will be a tough sell and one that does not guarantee success. Inasmuch as the United States did a credible job in rebuilding Germany and Japan after World War Two, Iraq is neither of those countries and presents a much different mood to the United States. Back then, the world was happy to see Nazi Germany gone as it was to see the end of Japan and its Samurai mentality along with the atrocities committed by Japan on its neighbours and enemies. Today, much of the world stood in opposition to the invasion of Iraq despite the obvious need to carry out the mission. The United States will need the Wisdom of Solomon and the Patience of Job. Moreover, the Americans will need to close their ears to the ranting of the myriad naysayers who take up space in the United Nations. The United States needs and deserves our support.
Bob Orrick is a private tutor of English grammar, literature, poetry and Canadian history to off-shore youngsters. His pupils hail from such places as Taiwan, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Korea and Venezuela. He was previously in international marketing, was a ministerial assistant to a provincial cabinet minister, spent a few years as a reporter then editor of a community newspaper and enjoyed a career in the Royal Canadian Navy.
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