Korean Job Discussion Forums

[inseoul]

Well, I don�t know about you all, but I have certainly been on the edge of my seat awaiting the verdict from the "Iraqi Study Group", assigned the task by Washington of deciding on a suitable strategy for the mess created by the US in the past few years in that Country.

Initial news reports on their conclusions suggest (among other things) that influences from outside Iraq are at least partly responsible for the problems, giving Palestinians some of their land back might help somewhat and even that US troops may start to pull out from early 2008.

These are indeed revelations.

With a budget of only $1million dollars, these US academics and accomplished politicians are showing every sign of being able to pull off a real turn around in the Country, if not the entire region.

I must say though that I have on more than one occasion wondered (whilst awaiting on the edge of my seat), if not perhaps this talented team of individuals should have been assigned the task of investigating the possible consequences and strategy of war in Iraq BEFORE the US decided to invade in the first place.......

I am the first to admit that I am no genius, but with a budget of $1 million USD, compared to billions for the invasion, 100,000 or more violent Iraqi deaths, and of course the 3000 odd US rednecks sacrificed in the name of......various things; one might well be justified in pondering whether the Study Group could have come first in this series of events?

I do not however favour such thoughts, as in being a "Westerner" living in a non Western country, I am often presumed to be an American, and such a theory, if it were true, makes me feel like a complete fool. Or more accurately, that those who do not at all resemble Americans look at me as if I too might be a complete fool.

Canadians in Korea go to great lengths to try and broadcast the fact that they are not American by such means as; wearing flags on their backpacks (yes, an abnormal degree of Canadians seem to walk around with Backpacks- some kind of hangover from the eighties, or perhaps even something to do with Government subsidies for backpacks in Canada etc...) , and various other means, such as trying to be louder than the Americans and drinking more. And I must say, I am beginning to understand their logic.

The less people who think you are American, the happier you will be over here (and I am sure this now applies in other 'foreign'/ non western countries also).

But I digress. Its back to the edge of my seat to watch the drastic turn around in Iraq unfold. No doubt by the "beginning of 2008" we will start to see a real improvement in Iraq, as the US troops leave.

I wonder if they have considered at all, in early 2008, potentially reinstating Saddam and then pulling out. 19 out of 20 Iraqis say they think the Country was safer under Saddam (CNN 06/12/06) and I am sure he would accept the job under certain conditions.

Infact, when I consider the type of people the US has based in South Korea representing their army, I wonder if they would consider a post for Saddam over here (if it meant we could send more of the US soldiers home from this locale). I know we would all feel a lot safer.

Indeed, back to the edge of my seat.

God Bless America, (especially those who control it)

[Ya-ta Boy]

[nautilus]

the failure of the Iraq operation so far is down to the Iraqi's inability to take responsibility for their own country. Backwardness and lack of motivation can always be blamed on the US.

[wannago]

[cbclark4]

Occupation is not an exit strategy.

cbc

[inseoul]

[cbclark4]

Saddam does not need to be re-instated. The Baathist bureaucracy needs to re-instated. The previous military structure needs to re-instated. The elected leadership needs to work with those institutions. The Iraqi Military needs to have the power of conscription and the US needs to leave.

cbc

[inseoul]

the fact that washigton is waiting for a report on possible solutions for iraq 3 years after victory was declared but that clown that runs the US, is in itself proof that the us has failed.

i would like to see more focus on the fact that the US has screwed it up so badly, than this sideshow study group crap.

they have said themselves that the report introduces no new ideas. it is a sideshow designed to avert embarrassment and attention from the real cost unfolding everyday.

150 more 9/11's would not balance the scales. but we live in hope.

[cbclark4]

[Satori]

[wannago]

[supernick]

[wannago]

[supernick]

[Satori]