Ful points to William Pfaff! This excellent piece explains the sheer idiocy of Bush administration policy in Iraq, where the foolish imposition of a foreign occupation created a hell on earth needlessly. The problem in Iraq is the huge military presence of the US, and most Iraqis want all American forces withdrawn ASAP. More than 2 out of 3 Iraqis think their country will be equally or more stable if the US gets out.

Pfaff correctly points out the inconsistencies in U.S. policy in Iraq and elsewhere. And, though he raises the topic of whether or not nation building can actually succeed, he fails to document its historical failure. Whether well-intentioned or ill, it simply doesn't work. His explanation for why is probably accurate. Though he also brings up the issue that the U.S. military is not trained for this sort of work, he does not question if they are even the right branch of government for it. Which it seems to me they are not. Whether or not we should even attempt it, there are other agencies that at least have some experience in development. The military does not.