Why The Road Matters

One big problem I notice in commentary - and ir has gotten better as the blog age has matured - is the tendency of people to focus on conclusions rather than the reasoning behind them.

This was most prominent in 2003 when just about everyone agreed we had to invade Iraq, but the rationale was ala carte - wmd, osama, xenophobia, democracy, human rights, oil, bellicocity, etc. If any group had been looking at the others reasons each would have been knocked down pretty quickly; instead everyone was happy to leave others alone to get their outcome.

With this in mind let me start by endorsing HRPs conclusion that the Iraqis need to do a better job if they want people to respect their sovereignty. However, everything else I disagree with. In short form: the US is not a neighboring state, after losing two dozen troops the past week to PKK rebels operating out of Iraqi territory they are completely justified and in no way petty in authorizing military action, and to this point the Coalition forces are still technically at the invitation of the government whether or not some (or even most) members want them to go. Off to work.