please clarify

Submitted by Michael Rosenbaum (United States), Apr 27, 2004 at 15:28

Daniel, I find myself wavering between the last two options (is this another option - Pragmatism?) as do you. I agree with the sentiments of your last paragraph:

"The American military machine is not an instrument for social work, nor for remaking the world. It is, rather, the primary means by which Americans protect themselves from external violent threats. The U.S. goal cannot be a free Iraq, but an Iraq that does not endanger Americans."

My question is how do we bring about an Iraq that does not "endanger" us without it being more like us and less like them (dictatorial, Islamist, etc.)? It seems that we have started an avalanche in Iraq (and the ME) and we have no choice but to try to manage that avalanche as best we can and channel it in a direction that will "endanger" us less. It is too late to retreat back in to fortess America and hope that the avalanche will not harm us.

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