Iraq's healing a slow process

I thought it was ill advised to invade Iraq. But we did it. And now there is a responsibility to rebuild and leave honorably.

I have worked on overseas development projects for 27 years. Each has been difficult even though conditions were nothing like they are going to be in Iraq when we leave. To just have basic peace (to say nothing of the rule of law, some form of democracy and predictable human interactions), you need minimum conditions of human existence. Conversely, to build acceptable conditions for life (physical, organizational, political and social) you need to have peace. Even with peace in place, development is complicated and longterm.

Predictable peace will not be obtained in Iraq for some time. Iraq's physical, organizational, political and social development is going to have to be addressed in a tough situation - even if we are there militarily. If we are able to help Iraq redevelop, it may take decades.