Buyer's Remorse on Iraq

In cautioning George W. Bush about rushing to war against Iraq, Secretary of State Colin Powell reportedly invoked the "you break it, you own it" rule of military action, according to Bob Woodward in his new book, Plan of Attack. "You are going to be the proud owner of 25 million people," Powell is said to have advised Bush. "You will own all their hopes, aspirations and problems. You'll own it all." And indeed for much of the past year the Administration has treated Iraq like an imperial possession, fending off suggestions that the United States needed the help of the United Nations or the legitimacy that its mandate would confer.

But recent developments have begun to force some changes in the White House attitude. With US casualties mounting and resistance growing, the Administration displayed the first signs of buyer's remorse, even as it tried to convince the world of its resolve to "stay the course." Bush applauded the efforts of UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi to develop a plan for an interim Iraqi government; the White House is reportedly preparing a Security Council resolution outlining a more substantial UN role in the post-transition phase; and it is working hard to bring NATO on board.

The Administration has also begun to take into account the viewpoints of a nascent Iraqi leadership, accepting the intervention of some members of the (admittedly US-selected) Iraqi Governing Council in negotiations with the Falluja insurgents and of Shiite leaders in dealing with radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Indeed, one encouraging development is that Iraqis have seized the initiative in these situations, displaying determination not to let them spin out of control because of ill-advised US military tactics.

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