Current Events — HabitableZone

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It takes a world to build a nation
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It Takes a World

By Ivo Daalder and Robert S. Gelbard
Sunday, September 7, 2003; Page B07

France and Germany's quick negative reaction to the Bush administration proposal for a greater role for the United Nations in Iraq underlines an obvious truth: Getting more nations to join the U.S.-led effort in that troubled country will not be easy. The risks and costs of involvement are great. To get others to sign on, the administration will have to cede more control over the non-military side of the Iraq operation than it is now contemplating.

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KEY QUOTES:

"Beyond new troops, more money is needed. The bill to the U.S. taxpayer for our involvement in Iraq may top $150 billion for one year -- and that covers only the American military effort and emergency reconstruction spending."

"It is important to remember that in the Balkans, the United States contributed no more than 20 percent of the reconstruction funding."

"We cannot afford to fail in Iraq, but it is becoming painfully obvious that we are unlikely to succeed on our own."

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