Reply #3: And expanding on that theme a little further... [View All]

When we invaded Iraq and essentially overturned the entire state apparatus by use of brute force, we created a vacuum of massive proportions. We had spent the better part of 12 years completely decimating Iraqi infratructure. The previous regime under Saddam had been able to hold on through their own use of brute force.

Now, with Saddam deposed, there are numerous factions rushing in to fill this vacuum, as could have been predicted. Many of these factions do not particularly like one another -- you can't tell me that the people in the Sunni triangle are enthusiastic about the power being exercised by Shiite Ayatollah al-Sistani right now. This then results in the US forces there having to adopt varying degrees of brute force in order to keep these rivalries from spilling over.

Of course, through all of it, the infrastructure is SITLL decimated. The US can't commit serious assets toward a real rebuilding of the infrastructure so long as it is engaged in continuing low-intensity combat operations. This then leads to FURTHER frustration by the Iraqis, compounded by the extreme privatization of their economy carried out by the order of Paul "Pontius" Bremer.

And, of course, you're absolutely right that the Iraqis don't have much faith in Western intervention in their region, since it has invariably (this instance included) been primarily for the purpose of shoring up Western "interests" rather than actually improving life for the Iraqis.

Problem is, now that we're here, there's no easy way out of it. :shrug: