How to go about 'reconstruction' work in Iraq

Someone asked what I would do about Iraq.

It's a fair question. I've been critical of the war; I should be willing to offer alternatives.

At this point, we cannot simply withdraw. That would cause more human suffering in the long run. We've imposed enough suffering.

Iraq was cobbled together by outsiders. It's a synthetic nation combining groups having strong religious differences, regional differences, economic differences and racial differences. For the most part, these different groups are not intermingled; they are self-segregated. They dislike one another — not so much as individuals but as groups, like most racism. The economic base is oil, but oil is located in only one area, giving one group economic advantages over the others.

Iraq is in disarray, mostly because of damage we inflicted. Electric systems don't work. Water and sewer systems are absent or obsolete. Travel is difficult or impossible. Education is hit and miss. Oil to support the economy cannot currently be recovered or transported. Government is inefficient or nonexistent, and law enforcement lacks consistency.

What, then, can we do?

First, we should stop calling it "war." The war is over. Winning the war was easy. Winning the peace is more difficult. Let's call it "reconstruction" — an old American term.

Second, we should reduce the images of war. At the very least, that means paint for the machines of war, a new look for the uniforms of men and women in the military, and fewer guns on display. (When you're up against hidden bombs or suicide bombers, guns are not much use.)

Third, we must patiently encourage a working government in Iraq. It won't do any good to replace the dictatorship of one man with the dictatorship of a religious ideology. The new government must operate with a reasonable set of civilized values, including free and universal voting, commitment to the rule of law, civil rights for all citizens (including women), shared tax obligations and basic support for the disadvantaged.

Creating such a government is not easy. It is more important to do it right than to do it rapidly.