A serious proposal for a solution to the Iraq situation

There is one solution to the Iraq war that would satisfy all obstacles and dead-ends. It would cost as much as staying the course with full American military presence, but actually provide positive results that would have the support of the international community and the Iraqi population.

The solution would be for American forces to be gradually replaced with a greater number of foreign troops working under a specially formed political authority and military command paid for by the American treasury. American citizens simply have to sustain the operation's costs in exchange for the return of their soldiers. Disorder from an otherwise unilateral pullout would be avoided by replacing American forces with soldiers from democracies with the favorable opinion of the Iraqi people.

It will be a politically shameful policy to put into action, essentially a full recognition of failure, but much better for the people of the United States. The reputation of one of the most unpopular American presidents is irrelevant in the context of the nation's history. It is the solution that hurts the American population the least, saving more American lives that any other possible option in the full course of the war.

For the Iraqi people this would mean a competently managed, accountable military presence that would break away the guilt and danger they are exposed to in participating with US forces. Iraqis know enough history to know the US government supported Saddam during his war with Iran. Things like that are not forgiven easily. It is very unlikely that any European presence would be welcomed as well, their presence having had much to do with the country's history of tyrannical leadership.

I would favor a leadership board made of influential leaders from around the world. There are many deserving ambassadors to humanity who would provide a beneficial support to an Iraqi democracy. I am not talking about the typical leaders known only to insiders but rather political figures that have provided recognizable benefits to their nations. Perhaps a large-scale election could select enough leaders to form a beneficial and accountable oversight.

Leaving foreign policy to the elected Iraqi government, the political body would have neither use nor benefit from secrecy and therefore represents a great opportunity to create an open political authority, fully accountable before the elected representatives of Iraq.

The only negative consequence is merely political and only concerns certain groups of individuals who were responsible for the war's development. The majority of the American people was tricked into this war and had every reason given the poor media coverage and lack of oversight. Paying for something you broke while someone else repairs it is the least someone can do. Shame hurts much less than death, especially if further misery can be lessened by its quickly forgotten sting.