Sunday, October 12, 2003
Now I had thought that the American-lead reconstruction in Iraq was actually going better than what was happening with the UN-lead Bosnia reconstruction. But that's not the implication of this thinly-veiled Boston Globe editorial masquerading as hard news ironically sub-titled, "Perseverance, patience pay off."
Boston.com / News / World / Europe / Bosnia offers lesson in nation building
Is it really deteriorating? Spectacular events continue, such as last night's car bombing in Baghdad, but us it really getting worse? It doesn't sound like it. And who are these "officials" who's remarks the Globe correspondent chose to build his story around? Why, UN officials, of course.
It also demonstrates that unglamorous workaday efforts -- like training a competent police force, judiciary, and civil service; building functioning educational and health care systems; and assuring that basic public services are delivered -- require as much advance planning and strategic thinking as a military campaign...
So, every experience is different, unless we need some ammo to bash the Bush administration, then we'll be sure to throw around some buzz-words like "international legitimacy" and "international approach" so you can make your own conclusions.
For the other side of just how effective the UN can be in reconstruction efforts, check out this Stephen Schwartz piece on the UN's efforts in Kosovo.
