Land of

the free?


The debate over who will be responsible for propping up a post-war Iraq began in earnest last weekend when it was clear Saddam’s regime would fall. Now that it has fallen and citizens of Baghdad appear to welcome coalition forces, a new government must be established before the Iraqi people grow tired and resentful of the coalition’s presence.

The question has been whether coalition forces or the United Nations should lead the creation of a new authority in Iraq. The answer is simple: Iraq should construct its own foundation.

The United Nations has proven itself an indecisive body and, after years of oppressive suffering, Iraqis don’t need indecision. They need immediate and committed support.

More importantly, certain U.N. members -Russian, Germany and France – fought hard against Operation Iraqi Freedom, casting suspicion on their underlying support of the former regime.

Coalition forces could certainly rebuild some form of government to push the country toward democracy, but should they?

Iraq has endured thousands of years of conflict and occupation. The religious and political scars are deep and coalition forces, no matter how well intentioned, are not prepared to sort through these sensitivities. The real work must be left to Iraqis themselves.

Iraq is a country of some 24 million people, a country that some westerners may find primitive but one that has a proud history of cultural and intellectual accomplishment. It can reclaim that heritage, but only if its own people have the greatest hand in establishing new authority.

There is a sensible proposal to organize a conference of the exiled Iraqi National Congress and other leaders from among the country’s Sunnis, Shi’ites, Kurds and other factions. This gathering, which would also be attended by coalition representatives, could craft the template of a new government, one organized and implemented by countrymen – not outside peacekeepers.

If this conference were held, coalition representatives should come from outside the tight circle of Bush administration confidantes. The administration, apparently successful in its mission to oust Saddam, is perceived as an aggressor. Restructuring Iraq will require gentle guidance, not an armed guard.

The war in Iraq was intended to rid the country of weapons of mass destruction and liberate the Iraqi people. To be really free, the people must build a government that is responsive to their culture, their religion and their politics. This is not work for outside parties.


Public efficiency


Raising the energy efficiency of any building is an engineering challenge, but one well worth taking on because it saves money.

America’s resistance to embrace conservation and our growing hunger for fuel demands that we use available resources as efficiently as possible. So, it makes sense for Maine’s Public Utilities Commission to grant up to $250,000 to engineer an energy efficient elementary school in Paris.

The mission of the PUC is to ensure utility services are safe, adequate and available at just and reasonable prices. What better way to do that than to support innovative energy efficient projects in public buildings?

Cost effective heating, cooling and ventilation systems in the new school could eventually dwarf the $250,000 cost of engineering efficiencies into place, and the innovations can then be mimicked in other projects to make the best use of public funds.


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