Iraq

Hypothetically, as a potential mediator what are your ideas for courses of action regarding Iraq and related Middle East tensions?

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Mediating an End to the Iraq War   by Jack Draper  09/20/07  Surprised there have been no comments here on such a critical issue for seven months! Although this would be a massively complex and time-consuming mediation effort, I think two key issues on this topic are: (1) who are all the necessary parties and (2) who could they all accept as mediator? This is first and foremost a civil war, but supported and fomented by various outsiders (as is usually the case). So the parties to the civil war are one group. Also, it seems all the neighboring countries, as well as various regional powers, have their fingers in the conflict, so this is another layer of parties, with links to the civil war participants. Thus, a simultaneous local and regional, multi-party mediation model seems to be the appropriate model. Someone on the level of a Nobel peace prize winner (e.g., a Nelson Mandela - type figure from a non-aligned state) with a staff of trained dispute resolution professionals from a wide range of countries (including Islamic representation and Arabic speakers), to advise him/her would need to be agreed upon and adequately funded. The mediator could then commence a round or two of "shuttle mediation" both online and in person, to caucus with the various mediating parties. Once sufficient common ground is identified and developed, the mediator should be empowered to convene a settlement conference at a neutral location such as Geneva to attempt to hammer out a comprehensive settlement. The problem is the current U.S. government will likely refuse to agree to a mediation process or a mediated solution, still clinging to the delusion that a military solution or "win" is possible. Sufficient domestic political pressure needs to develop against the policy of "make war not peace" before the above strategy could be attempted. Since the U.S. has repeatedly resorted to the use of force to deal with perceived major threats to its perceived overseas interests since at least World War II, and since various international criminal elements may also attempt to disrupt the process even if the U.S goes along, the prospects are unfortunately not good, but it does not mean the effort should not be made. [ Reply to This ]        838  Iraq   by David Bogan  01/11/07  I guess, like anything, before we can negotiate we need to talk, and before we can talk, we need to listen. [ Reply to This ]        777  We are always talking . . . just sometimes with guns   by Jim Melamed  02/07/07  I suppose that at some level it is all a negotiation . . not the kind of rational, civilized discussions we might like . . . but negotiation if only by arms and terror. Somehow, someday, this will all evolve to a new system in Iraq, possibly not one of our liking, but still, in its own way, things will come to be more defined, predictable and stable, even if that stability is highly imperfect. And at some point, even Bush's cabal will realize that it makes sense to talk, if only to save face and as not talking has not worked. Unfortunately, many lives have already been lost under false pretenses. The credibility of America has been sullied and our prospects for a mutually beneficial future are going in the wrong direction. Still, there is a negotiation going on . . . it is just a remarkably dysfunctional negotiation. Appreciate ICCM stepping up and saying "Hey, here is how you could talk and resolve this thing . . . what would be the most capable negotiation plan that would be a better choice than sustained war? [ Reply to This ]  Talking with guns   by David Bogan  02/07/07  Hello Jim, You are quite right of course, and I guess that's where the saying comes from that 'actions speak louder than words' - actions of course create energy which often result in the 'all heat and no light' effect. How does one change that, within one's own lifetime, is indeed the challenge. The good news is that hopefully out of a seriously dysfunctional negotiation will eventually grow an ordinarily dysfunctional one as the combatants get weary and then with enough perseverence a functional one as they get truly exausted from which a workable solution can finally be derived. As we tell our clients, it's all in the 'process,' would just be nice to live long enough to see it. [ Reply to This ]  ...and if our grandchildren can live long enough to see it.   by L. A. Hughes  10/20/07  "...out of a seriously dysfunctional negotiation will eventually grow an ordinarily dysfunctional one as the combatants get weary and then with enough perseverence a functional one as they get truly exausted from which a workable solution can finally be derived. As we tell our clients, it's all in the 'process,' would just be nice to live long enough to see it." Talking with guns, growing weary, finding another dysfunctional solution and then another before the 'light' goes on--truly reminds me of a nuclear holocaust, where whomever's left has to start all over again--from scratch. And I wonder if even my grandchildren, or theirs, will be around to start again. That is why I am glad to see this initiative step up to maybe getting the planet on a faster track. I hope that we as a world power don't have to hit 'rock bottom' before we can begin the ascent to change. [ Reply to This ]