[Congressman Billybob]

This piece by Jonah Goldberg is spot on. There is only one element he didn't mention, which I think he would have if he thought it through. Not only should the new Iraq constitution forbid an official religion (as does the US Constitution), it should also require a supra-majority to amend it (as do the US and the Swiss constitutions).

What is the right of the Coalition to strongly recommend (same as force through, but it sounds bettr) a new Iraqi constitution? Let's crack open a history book here. How did Japan obtain its democratic constitution that forbids an offensive military capacity? Why they got it because the Allies won the war, and General Douglas MacArthur pushed it through.

All of this stuff is self-evident to anyone who knows how constitutions are created and maintained, and who has read the histories of post-war Germany and Japan. Plus, of course, the history of the Swiss who have gone 500 years without participating in a major war. Not a bad record at all when one considers the divisiveness of its populations, traditions, cultures and languages.

Congressman Billybob

Latest column, now up on FR, "Who's Next?"

Latest book(let), "to Restore Trust in America."

[Burkeman1]

Germany and Japan are in no way similiar to Iraq for several reasons.

First. Both Germany and Japan had extensive Democratic experience before their fascit governments. Iraq has had next to none.

Second. Both Germany and Japan were cohesive nations with hundreds, if not thousands of years of common cultural, religious, and ethnic bonds. That is not the case in Iraq.

Third. Both Germany and Japan were utterly crushed during WWII- morally, physically, and pyschologically and welcomed any order imposed on them. That is not the case in Iraq.

Fourth. The imposition of the goverenments of modern Germany and Japan was accomplished only by long term and extensive occupations. There seems to be no will for that in this Country.

Unless we are going to garrison Iraq with a hundred thousand troops for 30 years or more and undertake extensive civil administration and education programs for future Iraqi elites then Goldberg's Switzerland plan is a childish fantasy and shows how far National Review has fallen in allowing this travel reader teenager such a forum on it's name.

[AFPhys]

A long article... a very good article... I wish I knew as much about the history as you both do ... I'll let you hash it out, but my initial read of all your comments and Goldberg's is that he has a good handle on this.