The Search for Scapegoats

A Justin Logan op-ed in the DC Examiner notes that hawks, in their endless quest to blame anyone but themselves for the problems in Iraq, have hit upon the idea that Nuri al-Maliki is just inadequate for the job of prime minister. As Justin argues, however, the objective situation simply makes it impossible for him to achieve want the hawks want him to. Iraqi leaders are destined to be actual human beings and not wizards capable of producing magical ponies: "The real problem in Iraq is not Iran or Syria, it wasn’t Ibrahim al-Jaafari, and it isn’t Nuri al-Maliki. It isn’t the case that a few external actors are undermining an otherwise sound strategy. Bush’s ideology-as-strategy model is the problem."

Comments

Also, didn't they push al-Jaafari uot for al-Maliki? Hard to blame the guy you yourself picked (not that they won't try).

Posted by Ugh | November 1, 2006 11:45 AM

Reminds me of when some American pundits blamed Boutros Boutros-Ghali for all that was wrong with the UN, and looked to Kofi Annan to solve the percieved UN anti-American sentiment. Kofi was the American choice back then and now they blame Kofi for their problems. These guys seem to confuse structural issues with personnel issues.

Posted by Anon | November 1, 2006 11:53 AM

re: blame

Posted by Linus | November 1, 2006 2:06 PM