For as long as America foots the bill in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere, leaders of these countries do not have a right to ask America to back off even on matters political. But that’s what Maliki did when he warned the US in this piece, “Political Angling Amid Uncertainty in Iraq,” that any interference the US makes in Iraq’s political process could only be detrimental. When a State Department’s assistant secretary suggested in light of Iraq’s recent elections that “top contenders for prime minister should consider accepting other positions to speed up the process” . . . Maliki said it was not America’s place to get involved.
Any astute student of world affairs would say that the US is only “making do” in Iraq and Afghanistan on things related to governance and political stability, for obvious reasons. America did transfer that political responsibility to local leaders at a time when they were not ready in the ways of republicanism and self-rule.
That is exactly the same mistake Woodrow Wilson committed in the Philippines. Many a time, I do wonder whether the Philippines would have turned out a successful constitutional republic early on had Wilson not implemented (with urgency) a “Filipinization” of its political process. I also wonder if a “Marshall Plan” approach to Iraq and Afghanistan would have changed the political calculus there in a way that it did in Japan and Germany. Japan and Germany rose from the ashes after their WW II defeat through massive infusions of economic resources from outside. But that defeat provided a blank slate on which these two countries were able to rewrite their political destiny.
But it seems late for hindsights now; we just have to make do.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
After 2 years of living in Afghanistan, and talking to numerous Afghans, civilians and leaders, I agree whole heartedly with your conclusions. Assistance and rebuilding makes differences in people's lives. Unfortunately, there have been way too many weapons and guns and inept leadership on the American side. On a recent episode of VICE, a cable investigative program, the inability of the US military and others to manage money has contributed to the extensions of problems. People are sending their kids to the madrasas in Pakistan to get an education because there are no schools available where they live. In Pakistan, they end up becoming indoctrinated with Taliban nonsense. I could go on and on and this is not my blog, but keep up the good work!
Post a Comment