# Nation-building in Iraq **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 28, 2003, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nation-building-in-iraq/178071 "2003-05-28T17:53:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sinful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Sinful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinful)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nation-building-in-iraq/178071/1 "2003-05-28T17:53:54Z")
Do you guys think that Americas partcipation in Iraqs rebuilding is a good idea? Should America commit in the long term to nation building in Iraq? Thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nation-building-in-iraq/178071/2 "2003-05-28T18:00:50Z")
Er, considering that the US made a fairly major contribution to tearing Iraq down, yes. You might want to clarify what you mean by “nation-building”, however. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Shagnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnik)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nation-building-in-iraq/178071/3 "2003-05-28T18:06:00Z")
Yes, but only if US’s contribution stays to “Helping” only. But we all know that wont happen. US will like its own pound of flesh, after all it did not send its men across the Atlantic just for a “brotherly gesture”. So keeping in view what is likely to happen, I don think we will likewhat might turn out. ---
**Author:** ![emacknight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ec8ea/32.png) [@emacknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacknight)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nation-building-in-iraq/178071/4 "2003-05-28T18:34:17Z")
My vote is no, there is too much hostility towards American troops that its just not safe. You need the smurfs (aka UN peace keepers). This is a sad prediction, but Iraqis are going to keep taking shots at US soldiers as long as they are there. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nation-building-in-iraq/178071/5 "2003-05-28T18:40:53Z")
What do **you** think, Sinful? ---
**Author:** ![Sinful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Sinful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinful)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nation-building-in-iraq/178071/6 "2003-05-28T19:09:36Z")
> [@](#): > > You might want to clarify what you mean by “nation-building”, however. [http://www.cesj.org/thirdway/paradigmpapers/iraq-nationbuilding.htm](http://www.cesj.org/thirdway/paradigmpapers/iraq-nationbuilding.htm) ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nation-building-in-iraq/178071/7 "2003-05-28T19:30:49Z")
Okey-doke, but the link raises more questions than answers, IMO. I was unaware that the US might be pursuing any policies along those lines in Iraq, and I seriously doubt that what we’ll end up with will follow CESJ guidelines; in fact, what with the current chaos, I’m having a hard time discerning just what US policy IS in that regard. I’m not opposed _in principle_ to the US attempting to establish a western-style republic in Iraq, if that’s the question, but IMO it won’t stick if there is no will in the Iraqi electorate to accept such a system. This issue demands deeper discussion than that, but unfortunately my time is very limited, so I’ll leave it for others to argue. ---
**Author:** ![Sinful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Sinful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinful)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nation-building-in-iraq/178071/8 "2003-05-29T04:10:57Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by John Mace \* > **What do** you_\* think, Sinful? \*\* > [@](#): > > Er, considering that the US made a fairly major contribution to tearing Iraq down, yes. Sums it up for me.