[SOC] Post-war Iraq

[JMcAulay]

It is truly not my intent to disagree just for the sake of disagreement,
nor to disparage the well-considered and heartfelt opinions of others.  But
there are certain things about which I feel quite strongly.  It is
difficult to disagree with the position that German history in the last
century may have made that entire country a bit "gun-shy," so leaving them
them out of consideration is perhaps not unreasonable.

However, France is a genuine power in today's world, widely known to
possess weapons of mass destruction in its own right.  And while the French
Army may have done not so well in a while, they -- and even more so, the
Foreign Legion -- are willing to enter battle to be slain at the drop of a
hat.  It is the French political leaders who have balked at providing
assistance.  But as they have offered -- nay, insisted -- that they
participate in postwar Iraqi reconstruction, I say they should have the
opportunity to demonstrate their true willingness to assist in the
restoration of Iraq.

I believe it is essential to the accruing of renewed trust among the
Atlantic allies for the French Government at the highest levels to
participate in this effort.  And as France stated with determination that
it would veto any UN Security Council Resolution initiating an armed
conflict despite any evidence that might be presented in favor of such
action, we should take their lead and immediately accept their offer of
assistance in post-war Iraq, firmly refusing any embarrassed or modest
protestations that they might not be best suited for a high-priority task
at hand.  Jacques Chirac himself could do no better than to individually
lead in Iraq a contingent of ranking French government officials to help
rid Iraq of tha primary residual scourge of all wars.  Indisputably, they
would be far more useful in this regard than any of the formerly fighting
Coalition personnel.  We should give the French Government our strongest
encouragement and grateful thanks for their participation to personally
assume the burden of this urgent task of paramount importance, the location
and destruction of all unexploded munitions.

Just my opinion.

73
John WA6QPL  SOC 263