Patterico suggests that we take a look at Jules Crittenden's blog. I did, and find his work excellent, particularly this piece titled A Dream of Mature Nations.
Crittenden asks a critical question: If so many countries in Europe and around the world love peace and stability, why aren't they fighting along side us in Iraq?
But I would still like to know where the Canadians, the French and the Germans in particular were when we needed them in Iraq ... if only to get out of the way. In fact, we could use a lot more troops in Iraq right now. More to the point, the Iraqis could use a lot more troops. They could also use the knowledge that the world actually gives a damn and is willing to stand with them, rather than always against us...Tens of thousands of troops flooding in, under NATO leadership, to engage aggressively as we've seen them do in Afghanistan. Do these nations care about Iraq? They claim to. Do they care about freedom and stability in the Middle East? They pretend to. So let's end the hypocrisy. We all know what is needed in Iraq. It isn't a pullout.
But Crittenden doesn't just assume that those civilized Westerners should help in Iraq. He also asks about those Muslim countries in the Middle East.
Then, there is the issue of Muslim nations. A lot of noise, a lot of trouble, not a lot of action to any good end. Muslim nations want peace in Iraq? How about cutting off the support to the terrorists from Iran, Syria and Saudi Arabia. How about, from Morocco to Indonesia, offering up some troops? Do you care about Iraq? Prove it.
Some people might think this is crazy. Another pointless dream. More trouble than its worth. Most of them aren't even democracies, and their populations are hostile to the United States. But I'd like to see their leaders explain to their people the benefits of doing something good for their co-religionists. And I'd like to see them, as I would like to see the French, the Germans and the Russians, move toward joining the ranks of mature, responsible nations in the world.
Maybe the idea of an international force that was determined to improve the Middle East is a pipedream, but if so, I guess I'm a dreamer, too.
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