Jim Hoagland thinks the U.S. is improving its approach to building a legitimate government in Iraq, including a recognition of the "need to turn from the occupation style of Gen. Douglas MacArthur in Japan to that of John J. McCloy in Germany."
By agreeing to hand over sovereignty to a provisional executive and legislature on July 1, 2004, and let Iraqis organize democratic national elections thereafter, the White House seems finally to have accepted the wisdom of the political adage that you can't beat somebody with nobody.Posted by Alan at November 19, 2003 06:24 AMThe clear and realistic path to sovereignty will finally make the 24-member Iraqi Governing Council into "somebody" by giving it significant responsibilities in the fight against the guerrilla remnants of Saddam Hussein's regime and in designing Iraq's future constitution. Mounting casualties and growing political tensions in Iraq forced Washington to overcome its wariness of taking this admittedly big gamble.
This suggests that the administration's military and civilian leaders are learning from mistakes in Iraq and adjusting to changing circumstances. Nothing could be more welcome, even if the administration predictably minimizes in public its need or willingness to change policy as it combats a nasty insurgency.
via the Washington Post