So, I think -- but I'm not certain -- that the link to the TED video wasn't in your comment when I first read and responded to it. Or, it was, and I just somehow completely missed it.
But, I just finished watching it. It's great! I was disappointed at the audience's awkward laughter to points that I don't think he was joking about, but he makes a very compelling point, and he makes it clearly.
That said, I don't disagree with him or you on this, and I wasn't actually just focusing on the initial invasion, though I can see how my statements could be interpreted that way.
I'll try to do a better job this time:
I think some parts of Africa, like Sudan, would be easier to both develop an initial presence in, and maintain a mostly peaceful presence in, than Iraq. Although you're right to point out that Iraq has more social infrastructure to begin with, that social infrastructure provides resources to "the other side" as well as "our side".
In other words, I think that there being less of a foundation to build on in Africa is actually beneficial -- even after considering Barnett's point, and agreeing with it. I think it's beneficial because it allows us to more easily provide resources to impoverished people without having to fight them for it. Think about it: there are no schools to blow up in some of these areas, so we can build them from scratch and introduce education to a population that hasn't had it.
I [EDIT: don't] think it's right to say "we don't know how to do that"; though Barnett may say the same thing, I think it's more of a statement that "we don't do that". Certainly Barnett has some good ideas about doing that, as do some aspects of the U.N. and organizations like the Peace Corps.
To underline my point: Iraq did indeed have a uniformed army, police, and some government -- and it is the remnants of those things which we are still fighting in that country to this day, and that's why Africa would be easier to administrate.
That's definitely a fair argument, and I don't think we are as opposed as I thought we were. The idea of building from scratch is appealing, but I think nation building is a really hard problem. I honestly think we don't have the experience or methods to fix politically bankrupt states, but perhaps you are right and perhaps we do. Either way, I think a shift in viewpoint (to "everything else", as Barnett calls it) is really important.
But, I just finished watching it. It's great! I was disappointed at the audience's awkward laughter to points that I don't think he was joking about, but he makes a very compelling point, and he makes it clearly.
That said, I don't disagree with him or you on this, and I wasn't actually just focusing on the initial invasion, though I can see how my statements could be interpreted that way.
I'll try to do a better job this time:
I think some parts of Africa, like Sudan, would be easier to both develop an initial presence in, and maintain a mostly peaceful presence in, than Iraq. Although you're right to point out that Iraq has more social infrastructure to begin with, that social infrastructure provides resources to "the other side" as well as "our side".
In other words, I think that there being less of a foundation to build on in Africa is actually beneficial -- even after considering Barnett's point, and agreeing with it. I think it's beneficial because it allows us to more easily provide resources to impoverished people without having to fight them for it. Think about it: there are no schools to blow up in some of these areas, so we can build them from scratch and introduce education to a population that hasn't had it.
I [EDIT: don't] think it's right to say "we don't know how to do that"; though Barnett may say the same thing, I think it's more of a statement that "we don't do that". Certainly Barnett has some good ideas about doing that, as do some aspects of the U.N. and organizations like the Peace Corps.
To underline my point: Iraq did indeed have a uniformed army, police, and some government -- and it is the remnants of those things which we are still fighting in that country to this day, and that's why Africa would be easier to administrate.