March 6, 2003
The most effective thing we can do right now may be to help the
Bush administration and the United States military find a face
saving way out of immediate warfare. Nothing is more dangerous
than publicly humiliated public servants with big armies.
So, I'm offering you the challenge of helping to frame a win/win
outcome for all parties to the present world crisis. This is no
time to be shy or to think small. Here's my list. I look forward
to hearing your ideas too.
A Draft Win-win Iraq Scenario:
There is no actual shooting war because --
1. Iraq continues to improve its compliance with the U.N. inspections.
2. Bush and the U.S. military receive praise for stimulating and
enforcing Iraqi disarmament.
3. Bush receives praise for showing restraint so far, by just
talking rather than prematurely shooting.
4. The world notes there is a learning curve in being a U.S. President.
Most presidents make at least one big tactical error early in
their presidencies.
5. The military is congratulated on saving lives, equipment and
money by not rushing ahead prematurely.
6. The Bush administration receives praise for the capture of
Al Quaeda operative Khalid Shaikh Mohammed in Pakistan as an example
of the right priority.
Even more wins --
6. Saddam Hussein decides to become a new kind of 21st century
Islamic hero by:
-seeing to it that the Iraqi people have a better quality of life,
more freedom, and no human rights abuses.
-disarming completely in the style of Germany or Japan
after World War II in order to put all Iraq's resources into
ecologically sustainable economic development.
For the Earth,
Susan C. Strong, Ph.D.
Founder
The Metaphor Project
www.metaphorproject.org