I read an article this morning about a key stage in the Iraq situation, the time when the security militants' pay will be coming from the Iraqi taxpayer instead of the American taxpayer.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/in_depth/7734978.stm
It really highlights the complete change of attitude the US has had over the handling of Iraq in the past year to year and a half. I'm glad that whoever is in charge pulled his head out of the sand. There is now a real path forward to having a stable Iraq again in the next five years, maybe not much improved over Hussein's Iraq, maybe yes, but at least not a hellhole of instability dragging the whole region down. And all because of a new US approach: less arrogant and more attentive, less stubborn and more pragmatic, less confident and more demanding. It appears a much-needed lesson in empire-building has been heeded. I don't want to argue whether the ultimate goal is empire-building, there are good arguments for both sides of that, but the techniques and patterns of empire-building are still useful and relevant.
Iraq
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