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January 31, 2006

Key moments from the State of the Union

This is all from memory, so pardon any inaccuracies. But here are key moments from the last few State of the Union addresses:

2002 - Bush debuted the "axis of evil", setting the initial stage for the invasion of Iraq. Two members of the axis still stand, but Iran looks like a major issue in the coming year.

2003 - Bush made the case for war in Iraq. He listed "evidence" of WMD programs in Iraq, including Iraq's attempts to purchase yellow cake uranium from Niger, which turned out to be false.

2004 - The only thing I remember from this speech is Bush's attempt to justify the war in Iraq and the failure to find WMDs. Although we failed to find actual weapons, Bush did say we found "weapons of mass destruction-related program activities."

2005 - Probably one of his better speeches. It was filled with a lot of rhetoric, but he focused on domestic policy like the failed Social Security privatization.

2006 - "America is addicted to oil." Coming from Texas president with strong ties to the oil industry, this will be the most memorable quote of the speech. I was impressed with Bush's plans for developing alternative fuels, and, overall, the speech was not bad.

Posted by Elyas Bakhtiari at 10:20 PM | Comments (11) | TrackBack

January 30, 2006

Oh Brave New World!

Exposed by numerous sites, it has been revealed that Congressional staffers have been editing Wikipedia articles.

Have you been reading your Aldous Huxley?

Till at last the child's mind is these suggestions, and the sum of the suggestions is the child's mind. And not the child's mind only. The adult's mind too -- all his life long. The mind that judges and desire and decides-made up of these suggestions. But all these suggestions are our suggestions... Suggestions from the State.

I think this is where Huxley got it right and Orwell got it wrong -- the future seems to revolve around conditioning humans into subservence rather than forcing them into it. Too bad Wikipedia already blocked their IP address....

This IP has been previously blocked. It's currently unblocked as feedback from users by this IP is expected at the request for comment page. It belongs to Information Systems, U.S. House of Representatives and is responsible for a large amount of vandalism.

Posted by Alec at 12:30 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

January 27, 2006

Straight from the Constitution

Article 38 of the Iraqi constitution:

"The freedom of communication, and mail, telegraphic, electronic, and telephonic correspondence, and other correspondence shall be guaranteed and may not be monitored, wiretapped or disclosed except for legal and security necessity and by a judicial decision."

Article 22:

First: Work is a right for all Iraqis so as to guarantee them a decent living.

Second: The law regulates the relationship between employees and employers on economic basis and with regard to the foundations of social justice.

Article 30:

First: The state guarantee to the individual and the family -- especially children and women -- social and health security and the basic requirements for leading a free and dignified life. The state also ensures the above a suitable income and appropriate housing.

Second: The State guarantees the social and health security to Iraqis in cases of old age, sickness, employment disability, homelessness, orphanage or unemployment, and shall work to protect them from ignorance, fear and poverty. The State shall provide them housing and special programs of care and rehabilitation. This will be organized by law.

Article 31:

First: Every citizen has the right to health care. The state takes care of public health and provide the means of prevention and treatment by building different types of hospitals and medical institutions.

Second: Individuals and institutions may build hospitals or clinics or places for treatment with the supervision of the state and this shall be regulated by law.

Article 35:

B. No person may be kept in custody or interrogated except in the context of a judicial decision.

C. All forms of psychological and physical torture and inhumane treatment shall be prohibited. Any confession coerced by force, threat, or torture shall not be relied on. The victim shall have the right to compensation in accordance with the law for material and moral damages incurred.

Posted by Elyas Bakhtiari at 8:52 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

January 26, 2006

Oh, Canada

Canada's newly-elected prime minister, Stephen Harper, plans to deploy military icebreakers in the Artic to "assert Canadian sovereignty" and defend disputed waters. The decision has drawn criticism from the U.S. ambassador. From the CBC:


During the election campaign, which culminated with Harper's win this week, the Conservatives promised to spend $5.3 billion over five years to defend northern waters against the Americans, Russians and Danes.

Seriously? I can understand if Canada increased spending on terrorism defense, even though it is not a likely target. But does anyone really think the Americans, Russians, or the... Danes are going to threaten Canada in any way? You should have learned from your southern neighbor. This is how conservative politics works.. it thrives on saber rattling and non-existant threats.

Posted by Elyas Bakhtiari at 9:46 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

More numbers

From Zogby International (via Donklephant):

Honestly, I'm surprised at these numbers. I am not as offended or shocked by the wiretapping scandal as the majority of America, I suppose. It's not that I approve of Bush's actions - I don't - but at this point, it is almost... expected. It just seems like one of many possibly impeachable offenses (if we adhere to the standard that anything worse than lying about oral sex is an impeachable offense). Perhaps this is the straw that will break the camel's back for many Americans, but my camel's back was broken long ago.

Posted by Elyas Bakhtiari at 9:17 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

January 24, 2006

Tuesday Numbers

A BBC poll of 32 nations (37,500 people) found Iraq and Afghanistan to be among the most optimistic countries when it comes to their economic future. "Italians join people in Zimbabwe and DR Congo as the most downcast about their future":

Posted by Elyas Bakhtiari at 7:13 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

January 20, 2006

Friday Numbers

On poverty:

Seven out of ten Americans polled believe there are more poor people today than a year ago. Would John Edward's "two Americas" populist message be better received now than in 2004? Katrina shined a light on a poverty problem that many Americans had turned a blind eye to. But would the Democrats be shooting themselves in the foot to adopt a economic-populist message now? How long can national security be the deciding factor in elections? How long should it be?

Posted by Elyas Bakhtiari at 9:46 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

January 17, 2006

A Commentary on Transitional Iraq


                                               by Alexander Baldwin

Executive Summary

“History is a gallery of pictures in which there are few originals and many copies.”
                                   Alexis de Tocqueville

     By trying to forcefully transplant Western institutions, blindly establishing economic prerogatives, and ignoring emerging socio-economic patterns, the current path towards a sovereign, democratic nation in Iraq is at a dead end. Indeed, America appears to be bound to repeat the mistakes of its Ottoman and British predecessors, leading to the reemergence of tyranny and domination through the social structure. Though some may see an inevitable fate to the situation in Iraq, a few alterations in current policy – primarily centered on economic growth – will facilitate the materialization of a stable nation.
     Currently, economic policy stresses a neo-classical ideal of the efficiency of market forces to advance economic growth. However, this policy has failed to employ Iraqi’s, raise the standard of living, or alleviate economic hardship. Instead, Iraqi contractors have been ignored, unemployment is at an estimated thirty percent, and privatization has been pursued without deliberation. What is truly needed is neo-Keynesian policy, using government revenue sharing of oil profits and enacting a New Deal for the Iraqi’s carried out by Iraqi’s that will build and maintain the infrastructure necessitated for private growth, employ vast amounts of people, and encourage investment. This will, most importantly, instill faith and legitimacy in the public for the benefits of a democratic government.
     Compounding flaws in economic policy are misappropriations in foreign aid. Though over twenty billion will be given this year from the United Stations with additional loans from Japan, Australia, and Great Britain, the concentration of monetary aid has left Iraq at a disadvantage. Further, conditional loans from the World Bank and International Monetary Fund have left the Iraqi government trapped in guidelines that will not be beneficial in the long run. Perhaps hesitant because of security concerns, the relatively small amount of economic advisors from Western nations has spent little time outside of Iraqi Ministry offices. Currently undervalued and unrecognized assets of foreign aid, advisors were the backbone of successful implementation of the Marshall Plan in the rebuilding of Western Europe, a tool that could have the same success in Iraq. Increased and informed foreign expertise would prove to be more meaningful than money while guiding a sovereign Iraqi economic policy away from reliance on foreign aid.
     Socio-economic forces drive history, and the United States constant inability to comprehend Iraqi social conditions only leaves America the prospect to succeed in the economic arena. By combating an acknowledged but ignored aspect of complete failure in current Iraqi administration, America can solve several other problems. Economic instability, from the wheat crisis during the ancien régime to the macroeconomic failures of Weimar Germany, has always provoked strong political instability. By embarking on an Iraqi ‘New Deal’, the government can increase the standard of living thus decreasing opposition that may arise out of pure human need, as evidence supports that much of passive insurgent aid resides from. Additionally, the achievement of such a project will isolate those disenchanted politically and give counter-insurgency a better base of support (and perhaps intelligence and collaboration as well). Political and institutional success is contingent in this circumstance to rebuilding the Iraqi economy.
     We have commenced in an insurgent war that looks to destabilize Iraq. As Sean Edwards spoke, insurgent warfare is a battle of wills where only ten to thirty percent of the effort is militarily. The rest of the thrust is primarily cultural and economic in the quest for the minds of the people. Though it appears we will lose much of the battle culturally and socially, we can still win the war by addressing what matters most: the Iraqi checkbook.



Interconnectedness

“The day is not far off when the economic problem will take the back seat where it belongs, and the arena of the heart and the head will be occupied or reoccupied, by our real problems - the problems of life and of human relations, of creation and behavior and religion.”
                         John Maynard Keynes

     Under a misleading media, Americans tend to believe that an invisible line divides the world, separating the West from Islamic nations. In reality, Middle Eastern societies are divided up by the same principles and conditions that the West has experienced. But economic windfalls, such as the fall in per capita income from 874.2 in 1982 to fewer than 400 currently have made for strange bedfellows as much as the occupation has eroded former divisions (Sluglett 232). Springing out of Paul Bremer’s decision to disband the 400,000 strong Republican Army, former Ba’athists are collaborating with the very religious fundamentalists and insurgent forces they once brutally suppressed. As Eric Davis describes, “suddenly unemployed, and in an inflation plagued economy, many former troops provided weapons to the insurgents or participated in attacks on US forces in return for money, which they often needed to feed their families” (2). Economic instability has unfortunately pushed many into the arms of extremist camps.
     Though it would be irresponsible to simply suggest that cultural, political, and religious values do not provide the elementary support for most insurgent groups, the amount of support could be drastically reduced by economic growth. It is estimated that there are over 10,000 insurgents, plus 400,000 passive supporters. These supporters provide what is really crucial to violent insurgents: the ability to blend in the background, economic support, and a basis of legitimacy for their actions. By providing economic stability, one would expect these numbers to dwindle for passive support, and continued attacks by insurgents on economic targets would turn national opinion against such support for debilitating Iraqi economic self-sufficiency.
     Col. Mathieu stated in Battle of Algiers, “In reality, it's only a small minority that dominates with terror and violence.” This minority is our adversary and we must isolate and destroy it.” In Iraq, the insurgency dominates with common attitudes towards American occupation as well with terror and violence. As stated before, the United States ability to partake in a cultural campaign is negligible, as it has already irrevocably hindered its image in the prison and torture scandal. Economic stability, however, is a feasible goal that will induce Iraqi support for the government, reduce the beliefs of economic self-interest and ‘blood for oil’ that dominate much anti-American sentiment, and ultimately against the insurgent activity. As Khajaf stated, much relies on a reconstituted armed forces and law enforcement apparatus to enforce a legitimate state. Much of this authority may be achieved through such economic activities with renewed respect for the forces that act on the states behalf. Simply, “Successful counter-insurgency requires popular support” (Hoffman 5). Popular support for the government will naturally turn opinion against the insurgents and for counter-insurgent measures, severing the head of passive support that is not stemming from absolute zealotry. This will leave the remaining hardcore insurgents isolated from the rest of the population.
     In its greatest feat, the insurgency movement of the few has suppressed political activism of the many in the natural progression of democracy. Further, the daily attacks have led many in America to believe democracy is unattainable. Though image improvement and understanding of the typical Iraqi will enrich relations, America’s ability to improve the Iraqi economy behind the scenes is the greatest hope to end the insurgency against occupation. Eric Davis notes America missed an initial opportunity to provide adequate income and a source of hope that would have also ‘undermined support for those seeking to subvert democratization’, but this opportunity has not completed eluded America (3). In this, the debilitation of the insurgency movement supplies the greatest opportunity for political institutions to effectively emerge. Though it is overly idealistic to assume freedom and liberty will flourish when the reign of anarchy and fear are cast aside, the building blocks for democracy will be more easily put into place. “Democratic theory holds that independent and self-sustaining middle classes create the basis for democratic civil life”, which a Keynesian economic policy will help create (Dawisha 5). With a middle class, an environment not restricted by terror, and a strong economic foundation, America will have provided the best opportunity for a legitimate Iraq democracy to survive. In the end, it is our prerogative to put the task of democracy under Iraqi control under the best possible conditions.

Economic Strategies

“The manner in which the benefits and burdens are apportioned by the market mechanism would in many instances have to be regarded as very unjust…”
                              Friedrich Hayek

     Under the auspices of American encouragement, the CPA has pursued a policy of market liberalization, almost non-existent tax and tariff rates, and privatization. Economic policy, in an administration that is dominated by short-term considerations, is oddly long-term oriented. Though these are wonderful practices for developed countries, they neglect to focus on over-arching short-term issues including infrastructure and employment problems that scar the idealism of American involvement and legitimacy of Iraqi sovereignty.
     “Establishing a functioning market economy in Iraq is a cornerstone of the Bush administrations goals of bringing lasting prosperity to Iraq” (Crocker 73). But is a market economy truly in Iraq’s self-interest? A few sentences later, Crocker inadvertently evaluates the sincerity of administrations goals by stating, “the United States hopes that a free market Iraq will be a bonanza for US companies” (73). The self-proclaimed market therapy that were enacted in the former Soviet Union (and pursued in Iraq) led to a ‘privatization’ of public companies and assets into the hands of the few (and most likely in Iraq’s case, former Ba’athists and other opportunists). Order 39 permits hundred percent foreign investment and ownership in Iraqi business entities, worrying outside observers that the ‘instant discarding’ of Iraqi’s commercial sector will create ‘serious distortions in Iraq’s economy’ (Crocker 77). If such a course occurs in Iraq, it truly will be the revenge of social structure.
     This will compound problems naturally associated from economies reliant on oil such as Iraq. Evaluated by Birsdall and Subramanian, oil has a pocked legacy in developing countries as only one nation, Norway, has an abundance of oil and a thriving democracy (and that was in place before oil was discovered) (Judis 2). Oil is a resource with a large rent: a high reward in excess of effort (2). In the development of states with concentrations of valuable resources, they miss the ‘privations of what Marx called the primitive accumulation of wealth’ (Judis 3). This lends itself to power consolidation and the corruption of political institutions, as it is ‘easy to appropriate – either by the state or by the few who control the resources’ extraction” (2). The domination of the oil industry can also lead to the ‘Dutch Disease’, where the crowding out of the market of other economic activities, inhibiting growth and diversity (2). In this manner, oil wealth naturally undermines the type of institutions America is trying to install.
     Further, there has been little genuine Iraqi involvement in the economic decision making process. The American economic advisors, attached to every ministry in the CPA, have veto-power and are the primary decision makers. Under this guise, the CPA pursued its economic program with ‘minimal Iraqi input’, making Crocker question whether a representative government will continue to follow the CPA’s goals and policies (Crocker 74). A simple fact that drew my attention explains this situation: of over 20 billion dollars given in foreign aid, only 150 million has been autonomously used by the CPA with only 15,000 jobs created (Crocker 87). As an Iraqi construction manager complains “US contractors are importing labor and expatriating the benefits—where is the benefit for Iraq?” (Medani 29). Rather than attain the altruism Fukuyama insists is necessary to gain inhabitants faith, Crocker illuminates that US policy has been directed at paying for profits, security, and insurance for US companies rather than job creation in Iraq (Crocker 89). Nothing belies this point more than the hiring of foreign workers over unemployed Iraqi’s by American companies, alienating businessmen and laborers alike.
     The precarious Iraqi economic situation calls for a drastic plan inspired by America’s own history of battling economic depression. While the CPA did succeed in rebuilding some of Iraq’s infrastructure like potable water and electricity, “much of the funds designated for rebuilding Iraq would have been better directed towards a comprehensive New Deal-type public works and education program that would have provided Iraqi’s with immediate employment” (Davis 3). Vast unemployment is the most pressing economic issue that’s persistence will lead to increased political instability. The government must make up for short-term solutions that cannot be created in a newly formed free market if inefficiencies are to be remedied. This Iraqi New Deal will have other implications as well; most notably the creation of a stable infrastructure that will encourage private sector growth, education, and give Iraqi’s input into how US money is spent (Crocker 89).
     A corrective measure suggested by Birdsall on the redistribution of oil revenue would have provocative effects on the Iraqi economy. Apart from resolving foreign debt and aiding investment for public works projects, oil revenue distribution would be an excellent way for individuals to increase their purchasing power or savings. An increase in savings, a noteworthy problem in a cash-driven society like Iraq, will promote investment and the diversification of assets out of oil. Birdsall also acknowledges the problems that may arise from distribution, namely the inefficiency from retaxing of assets given out by the government. This can be solved by encouraging a consumption tax based on sales that would induce saving.
     Through a program of wealth redistribution in oil revenues, the revitalization of the Iraqi economy with a large government program, and preventive steps to stop the forming of monopolies and tycoons will the long-term goals of free market enterprise be reachable. Encouraging economic growth will underpin the basis for a self-sustaining democracy, ultimately creating a strong middle-class, and reducing the antagonisms felt towards the occupation.

Foreign Aid

“The trade of the petty usurer is hated with most reason: it makes a profit from currency itself, instead of making it from the process which currency was meant to serve. Their common characteristic is obviously their sordid avarice.”
                                   Aristotle

     Foreign aid, perhaps rosily viewed as a beneficial device, has actually hindered the growth of the Iraqi economy and thus the Iraqi state. Currently floating approximately 120 billion dollars in debt, with expectations of it reaching around 400 billion dollars, Iraq faces an international debt crisis before it is even off the ground (Crocker 82). More perturbing is the fact that foreign aid in many ways has just gone back to US contractors instead of the Iraqi people. Though foreign aid has succeeded in reestablishing Iraq’s vital infrastructure, it was through American companies rather than Iraqi effort. Suffering from image problems related to the blood for oil view, the United States would aid Iraq and its international reputation by reevaluating its foreign aid procedures.
     A primary concern will be that international debt will suffocate Iraqi revenue, deterring internal development and hindering the providing of service. Debt repayment will be a crucial element of how the Iraqi government will function in the future. “Without a radical reduction, debt servicing will tie up Iraq’s oil revenues”, causing much cash flow out of the government hands and back into international debtors who may not reinvest in Iraq (Crocker 82). A more honest plan (but would put Iraq at the mercy of the West’s good graces), will be to seek debt forgiveness, including the 20 billion that is still desired in reparations for the Persian Gulf War. Much can be learned from the lessons of Weimar Germany, where international reparations precipitated internal collapse and the rise of National Socialism. However, the West will be more inclined to forgive Iraq’s debt in light of current situations with Iran and the necessity for regional stability than from learning from past mistakes.
     Frustrating for Iraqi’s and reflective of the current administrations relation to business is the practice of distribution (or mismanagement) of foreign aid in Iraq. In a well-articulated line, Medani states, “in direct contrast to neo-liberal nostrums about the virtues of market competition, Iraqi reconstruction has been a decidedly political and non-competitive affair” (31). Almost all large contracts, including those involving Iraq water and oil where Iraqi businessmen have firsthand experience, have gone to US-based corporations (Medani 31). Increasingly, money has been diverted away from reconstruction, particularly for security, limiting reconstruction projects (Crocker 82). More disturbing is widespread allegations of corruption in the post-Saddam era in the form of kickbacks and unfair contracts that may be consuming up to twenty percent of funds (Crocker 83). History has repeated itself in this sector, from the Anglo-Ottoman agreements of the 19th century to the current policy in Afghanistan. In America’s largely ignored secondary nation-building country, Afghanistan, aid has failed to go above 75 dollars per person and been widely ‘insufficient’ (Gannon 5). Similar scenarios are being lived out in Iraq, where only 1 billion of the 18.4 billion appropriated by Congress has been released for use (Hoffman 4). Agreements with the WTO and IMF have also promised foreign aid – on the stipulation that Iraqi markets remain free. A corrective adjustment to move foreign aid into sovereign Iraqi control will bolster public confidence in his or her own government and actually allow Iraqi involvement in its reconstruction process.
     Foreign aid does not have to be strictly limited to the financial arena as well. French and German businessmen following World War II studied on industrial tours in America, learning about normalized labor-management relations, assembly-line production, and mechanization. Though estimates are around 1500 for economic advisors in Iraq, they are attached to primarily to government functions then on grassroots level organization. Their efforts are necessary in the inexperienced de-Ba’athized bureaucracy, but they would also be effective in addressing the private sector. The effort to augment foreign advisors would be invaluable to future business leaders who have lived under a restricted economy during Saddam’s reign. Having a large urban population (75 percent) and the most educated citizenry in the Middle East will make such advisory exponentially more effective and accessible (Byman & Pollack 15). The move towards capitalism is far from intrinsic but very possible considering Iraqi conditions.
     In itself, monetary financial aid is not a sufficient condition for economic recovery . The continuation of bloated financial packages that exclusively award American companies has cast a ‘deep shadow over the idealistic language of the administration’ (Hoffman 2). Indeed, a primary component of foreign aid in Iraq has been just that: foreign. Absent of Iraqi employment or contractors, aid has not reached those it should intend to: the currently thirty percent unemployed. If the current administration is to right the course of the Iraq reconstruction, more Iraqi-centric policy combined with the importation and transfer of human capital (the economic term for human knowledge) will help dispel the image of a profit-motivated occupation. A reshaped agenda on foreign aid is the secondary core issue that will determine the economic future and thus the success of nation building in Iraq.

An Addenum: Rebuilding Iraq: 1/05 – 4/05

     “The arrival in 2003 freed Iraqis from Saddam, but not from their own suspicions and grievances. It had been a victory of foreigners” . George Packer reveals in a single phrase the background that continues to haunt the US led occupation in Iraq. Though elections were relatively successful in January and violence-based insurgency has subsided, the typical Iraqi has seen little results apart from perceived foreign involvement in its sovereign affairs. The past four months have been a continued deviation towards Iraqi dependency on international economic aid and military support for political stability, instead of pursuing self-determining policies that will allow Iraq to operate successfully and autonomously.
     The biggest step since January has been the elections, with the consequential seating of 275 members of the transitional National Assembly. On April 6th, they elected Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, as president, and two vice presidents who are Shiite and Sunni . These three men named Ibrahim al-Jaafari, a Shiite leader of the Dawa Islamiya Party, as prime minister who will now recommend a cabinet that will be approved by a vote in the assembly. Notable is the inclusion of all three major ethnic groups of Iraq in positions of power in the new government, though Jaafari is an advocate of an Islamic government. The primary goal of this transitional government is to write a permanent constitution by the August 15th deadline, though commentators have noted this may be extended given the delay in forming a new government.
     The insurgency has been the primary target of current efforts, particularly in insuring a smooth election process. This was primarily delivered and U.S. forces have seen a marked decrease in casualty levels following the January 30th elections. Attacks against U.S. forces have dropped by twenty-two percent and March’s figure of forty American soldiers killed was the lowest casualty rate in more than a year . Accordingly, the New York Times reports that these signs have encouraged a possible pull out by the Pentagon of one third of the 142,000 troops in Iraq . However, such statistics may be misleading as attacks against Iraqi security forces and ‘collaborating’ civilians are up. The vulnerability of both, who are necessities for future stability, would only increase as US troops formulate and execute withdrawal from Iraq. Recent attacks have included a suicide bombing targeting ex-Prime Minister Allawi, nineteen Iraqi security forces found in a soccer stadium, and the downing of a commercial helicopter over western Baghdad. Such attacks have come in a more large-scale nature where insurgent forces attack government forces, departing from the hit and run tactics that marked previous strategies. Though this evolution to attack both civilians and government forces is not strictly along traditional lines of Maoist insurgency, military officials consider this the third phase, which involves larger conventional force-on-force attacks against the government in charge .
     The progression of a stable, self-governed economy is the silent partner in the possibility of a stable Iraq. Currently, policy has been successful in stabilizing currency and credit, but Iraq officially has a twenty-eight percent unemployment rate surveyed by the Ministry of Planning . But even within these figures, they hide the fact that much generated employment since the invasion is related to aid, occupation, and security jobs ‘with no stable impact on the economy’ . The reliance on cyclical employment creates a situation where job stability is dependent on current situations, instead of investing skills into more stables fields, like industry and service.
     Foreign aid has been limited to the sphere of security, infrastructure, and for the elections, if distributed at all. Of the $18.4 billion in aid, the Program Management Office has committed $7.6 billion and spent only $333 million . Foreign investment has been strong but limited, as companies are hesitant to hire local workers in fear of sabotage, and are often bringing cheap labor from India and Pakistan. With high unemployment rates and stagnating investment, the failure of development has left the door open for insurgency, unrest, and the reliance on black markets and criminality for everyday life.
     The failure to reconstruct Iraq and provide even basic services like electricity or water continues to be detrimental to development plans. The Americans have allocated $18.4 billion for reconstruction in Iraq, but an official in the public works ministry says more than 70 percent of the money his ministry was originally granted has now been reallocated to spending on defense and security . Even with this increase in funding for security, electricity workers recently held a demonstration to denounce violence and sabotage that has led to many of their colleagues’ deaths . Claude Bolton, Assistant Secretary of the Army, stated in a March 4th press brief that two-thirds of the planned 3000 construction projects have begun . Ironically, in a Department of Defense news briefing, General Bostick partially attributed the failure to provide enough electricity to increased average demand in electricity from 5,000 to 8,000 megawatts. This, in his view, was a result of the democracy and freedom opened up for Iraqi’s to buy ‘televisions and air conditioners’ .
     “USAID supports sustainable economic reforms in Iraq including examining and reforming laws, regulations, and institutions and providing a framework for private sector trade, commerce, and investment. The reforms will strengthen the Central Bank and the Ministries of Finance, Trade, Commerce and Industry— among others.” USAID, the foreign aid federal organization, in their statement regarding Iraqi economic self-governance, reveal the flaws that continue to plague the economic recovery effort. Many in the US continue to believe that the undeveloped private sector is the key to promoting expansion. But this ignores the need for governmental involvement in stabilizing the labor market by providing a large amount of employment opportunities in a country lacking positions for the educated and uneducated. In the years it will take for Iraq to enjoy a Western style business environment, unrest created by economic failures could end the chance for democracy and stability.
     The transitional effort in economic recovery was led by a classical economic belief that has yet to be updated by the transitional government. The legal framework put in place by Paul Bremar has put Iraq into an ultra-capitalist, free-market structure. Orders 37 and 49 slash top tax rates from 45 percent to 15 percent - one of the lowest rates in the world. Order 54 abolishes all duties on imports to Iraq, apart from a 5 percent reconstruction levy and Order 39 allows 100% foreign ownership of Iraqi companies except in the oil, gas and banking sectors . These rules have been called a ‘corporate invasion’ by commentators like Becky Branford . However, such laws are not irreversible and can be changed by a simple majority by the transitional government.
     The past four months have been a continuation of previous mind-sets that have over-extended and exposed Iraqi security forces, limited the reach of reconstruction and financial aid, and failed to provide a secure Iraq environment. In Caroline Hawleys words, “In most areas there is little visible sign of reconstruction and residents across the city have power for half the day at most. Look around the Iraqi capital, and the most obvious change over the past two years has been the mushrooming of concrete anti-blast barriers.” Indeed, reconstruction has been as much imagination as reality. The pursuit of short-term goals with short-term solutions has undermined the long run objectives of removing coalition troops because they were no longer needed.

Notes

You can download this article as a Acrobat PDF. They are divided between the first four sections and the addendum.

I was unable to recompile an entire list of the references I used. Sean Edwards, referenced in the first couple sections, is a counter-insurgency expert who currently works at the DOD. The other books and articles are as follows:

References

Anderson, Jon Lee. “Q&A: Iyad Allawi.” The New Yorker, January 31, 2005.

Branford, Becky. “US legal legacy on Iraqi Economy.” BBC News, April 15, 2005.
     http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4417759.stm

Benjamin, Mark. “How many have gone to war?”. Salon, April 12, 2005.
     http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2005/04/12/troops_numbers/index.html

Cordesman, Anthony. “Figures Indicate Challenging Transition Ahead in Iraq.” CSIS, April 12, 2005

Cordesman, Anthony. “Resources versus Strategy and Force Transformation: Iraq and the Challenges of the American Overstretch.” CSIS, April 12, 2005.

Council on Foreign Relations. “Q&A: Change in Tactics for Iraqi Insurgency?” New York Times, April 7, 2005.
     http://www.nytimes.com/cfr/international/slot1_041205.html

Council on Foreign Relations. “Q&A: The Iraqi Government’s Next Steps”. New York Times, April 7, 2005.
     http://www.nytimes.com/cfr/international/slot3_040705.html

Embassy of the United States of America. “Focus on Iraq”. February 17 2005, March 4 2005, March 28 2005.

Hawley, Caroline. “Iraq Blighted by Poor Services”. BBCNews, April 12, 2005.
     http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4414291.stm

Hertzberg, Hendrik. “Landmarks”. The New Yorker, February 14, 2005.
     http://www.newyorker.com/printables/talk/050214ta_talk_hertzberg

Packer, George. “Letter from Basra: Testing Ground.” The New Yorker, February 28, 2005.
     http://www.newyorker.com/printables/fact/050228fa_fact

Steele, Jonathan. “Don’t be fooled by the spin”. Salon, April 13, 2005.
     http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2005/04/13/iraq_occupation/

USAID. “Economic Governance: Assistance for Iraq.”
     http://www.usaid.gov/iraq/accomplishments/econgov.html

Slugget & Slugett. "Iraq Since 1958: From Revolution to Dictatorship".

"Democracy’s Prospects in Iraq", Eric Davis.
     http://www.fpri.org/enotes/20040630.middleeast.davis.iraqdemocracy.html

"How to Build a Democratic Iraq", Adeed I. Dawisha and Karen Dawisha.
     Foreign Affairs Magazine

"Reconstructing Iraq's Economy", Bathsheba Crocker.
     http://mitpress.mit.edu/catalog/item/default.asp?ttype=6&tid=15390

"State Rebuilding in Reverse: The Neoliberal "Reconstruction" of Iraq", Khalid Mustafa Medani.

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January 16, 2006

No words...

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January 11, 2006

The year of truthiness

A group of linguists declared "truthiness" - a phrase coined during the first episode of The Colbert Report - as the 2005 word of the year. Truthiness, according to the Urban Dictionary, is "the quality of stating concepts one wishes or believes to be true, rather than the facts."

Truthiness is nothing new. In fact, truthiness may play a bigger role in how we live our lives than the truth. Most of our belief systems (whether religious, national, or political) are nothing more than concepts we wish to be true in absense of the facts. We write our history with truthiness and we govern with truthiness.

That said, truthiness may apply more to the political arena than any other. During the episode, Colbert said, "I don't trust books. They're all fact, no heart." During campaigns you often hear about the character and "heart" of a candidate. In what other sector can you land a job with no factual qualifications or proven results?

Which brings me to my nomination for the 2005 truthiness of the year. Spoken by George W. Bush, it is simply:

"Brownie, you're doing a heckuva job."

Related: Maverick Views

Posted by Elyas Bakhtiari at 9:31 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

January 10, 2006

The Tipsy Bear

If there's one animal that seems to get its head perpetually caught in the honey jar, it's the drunken Polar bear looming about in Europe and Asia. Russia is a resource-wealthy nation with a well-educated constituency, but one that has been consistently stuck in top to bottom societies, from the Czar to the Communist regime to today's autocracy-in-democracy clothing. Though the early 1990's provided hope that the former Soviet nation would evolve into a stable and just society, Russia has regressed while watching it's neighbors develop out of tyranny into democracy.

The most interesting recent development has been with former Soviet bloc countries as Russia attempts to hold onto its spheres of influence. It appears that the powerful in Russia enjoyed reciprocal relationships with the powerful in the post-Soviet nations, but as the trajectory of post-Communist nations turns towards legitimate democracy (specifically ex-Warsaw Pact nations as Romania and Soviet nations Ukraine and Georgia), Russia regressed to outrageous demands that looked to either starve or polarize their former colleagues. Oil continues to be Russia's main weapon with elevated gas prices and an under-supplied world market, but its inability to compromise or produce an image of at best neutral, if at least not-corrupt, intentions have diminished it internationally. Eloquently stated in the Salon article, despite reduced capabilities, Russia continues to brandish regional ambitions like "phantom limbs" and pursue policies as if it were still a global leader.

But the counter-balance to Russia's aggressive behavior has been its neighbors instead of the United States or the European Union. In April of 2005, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Moldova joined forces in a new "Union of Democratic States". These countries have received monetary and diplomatic support from the United States, and it has become clear to some in the global sphere that Russia needs to be isolated. This alliance has succeeded geographically, but Russia has found other avenues to remain diplomatically relevant, such as Iran and North Korea, where nuclear proliferation is the fundamental issue.

Once upon a time Russia was seen as leading the charge towards market economies and representative government in post-Soviet Europe and Asia. But as Putin becomes increasingly reactionary towards democracy in his own country and in others', Russia's foreign policy has suffered a parallel impact. Relying on what are now key issues -- energy and nuclear concerns -- Russia has held onto some of its power internationally and regionally. But as these issues become resolved, the once powerful nation will find itself trapped in an empty jar of honey.

Posted by Alec at 11:11 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

January 9, 2006

Don't annoy me

Thanks to the new "Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act," is is now a crime to annoy someone on the internet under an alias. Yes it actually uses the word annoy. This basically means that some 70% of blogs and 99% of online forums will be hamstrung as millions of users become 100% politically correct and only post pleasant ideas that have been vetted by their PR department to ensure that it is safe. (And yes I did make up those statistics.)

Seriously, who thought that such a vaguely worded clause was a good idea?

Gosh, I hope no one is offended by this post...

Posted by Potter at 1:11 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

January 8, 2006

Scooped by The Onion?

Sometimes the real news just can't keep up with the fake:

7 December 2005 - Rest Of U2 Perfectly Fine With Africans Starving - The Onion

And now:

2 January 2006 - Bono admits breakup fears - AP Wire

What else can I say?

Posted by Potter at 9:59 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

January 6, 2006

Quote of the week

"I wish it hadn't happened because it's not going to help us keep our majority,"

- Rep. Ralph Regula, R-Ohio, referring to the Abramoff scandal and the fact that three quarters of those donating funds are Republicans.

Posted by Elyas Bakhtiari at 10:24 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

January 5, 2006

Networks of friends

The medium of the internet has made social networking so much more ... networked. Through sites like Livejournal, Xanga, MySpace and Facebook, users are able to connect with people who share similar interests whether they live two km or 20,000 km away. (I'm not even going to address the phenomena of real life friends needing to cement their friendship through online linking, it could be a topic of its own) However, in order to facilitate such wide spread networking it is required that users submit copious amount of information about themselves and they do so very willingly. Full name, birthday, location, school(s), interests, hobbies, photos, all of this very personal information is sent to the servers of these private companies. Even the matrix of relationships and friendships contributes to the intelligence which could be mined from such a resource. And yet very few users pause to consider with whom they are turning over their personal information.

Those who do question have turned up some interesting links which are shady at best and potentially dangerous at worst. MySpace's corporate officers have a shady business history which leads to questions about what kind of ethics are being used in handling so much personal data. Facebook has a privacy policy with such gems as:

Facebook also collects information about you from other sources, such as newspapers and instant messaging services. This information is gathered regardless of your use of the Web Site.

Hello, Big Brother.

It goes on to give the normal spiel about only sharing information with third parties including "responsible companies with which we have a relationship." This seems fairly innocuous until you find out some of the companies with whom Facebook has a "relationship." As discussed in an article from last August, the venture capital firms which invested in Facebook are run by corporate officers which have previous links to the CIA and DARPA (who brought you not only the internet but also the Information Awareness Office). As pointed out in the above article:

One of IAO's original example technologies included "human network analysis and behavior model building engines," a surprising echo of the social networking mapping that Facebook does using SVG visualizations.

Now I will be the first to admit that the articles I've referenced are by no means ironclad proof of anything underhanded taking place. However, they raise interesting questions that I feel need to be asked by more people. Who is collecting all this personal information? What is it used for? What might it be used for in the future?

There have already been rumors of employers using Facebook when vetting interviewees and students being busted for alcohol and drugs based on photos shared through such services. In light of this and the aforementioned information, the need for personal responsibility in sharing such information is made very clear. Despite the cool, trendy nature of such services, users should not blindly fill out the forms with all their personal details without knowing who it is will have access to such data. Technology has given us great opportunities but it still falls to us, the users, to ensure it is wielded responsibly.

Posted by Potter at 7:06 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack

Welcome our new authors

As I mentioned previously, I don't have as much time to dedicate to blogging these days. Luckily, I've found some excellent guest bloggers who will not only improve the frequency of posts on Ablogistan, but also their quality. You can read about Potter and Alec on the About page, and hopefully they will make their first posts soon.

Posted by Elyas Bakhtiari at 6:50 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

January 4, 2006

Here we go again

From The Guardian

The Iranian government has been successfully scouring Europe for the sophisticated equipment needed to develop a nuclear bomb, according to the latest western intelligence assessment of the country's weapons programmes.

Scientists in Tehran are also shopping for parts for a ballistic missile capable of reaching Europe, with "import requests and acquisitions ... registered almost daily", the report seen by the Guardian concludes.

The warning came as Iran raised the stakes in its dispute with the United States and the European Union yesterday by notifying the International Atomic Energy Authority that it intended to resume nuclear fuel research next week. Tehran has refused to rule out a return to attempts at uranium enrichment, the key to the development of a nuclear weapon.

I think I've seen this one before. Next, the U.S. beats the war drums over the threat posed by Iran's weapons of mass destruction. Then, Iran beats the war drums over the possibility of a U.S. attack and speeds up its weapons search. But will there action this time?

Many bloggers and pundits seem to think so, but I don't think it would be possible right now. I don't know much about military strategy or the strength of the armed forces, but it would seem that another war would stretch the forces too thin. There's always a possibility of a tactical strike, but at this point it would be hard to do that without some sort of retaliation.

The stakes seem too high for another war right now, whether Iran has weapons or not.

Posted by Elyas Bakhtiari at 11:51 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack