noteworthy wrote:
] Kerry has said that he still would have authorized the war,
] but as President he would have done things differently. Well,
] okay, but what might have been the impact of those
] "different" actions or methods?

OK. This is a good discussion to have. I think its at the heart of this election.

] This is worth some thought. If Kerry could have "done things
] differently" and convinced more of Europe to finance the
] occupation, reconstruction, and counterinsurgency, that would
] definitely qualify as a Good Thing from a US perspective.

Thats one.

] However, more money, or Euros instead of dollars, would not
] have brought about the defeat of the insurgency or defused the
] tensions in Iraqi politics.

Its possible that a force that was considered broadly international would be less resented as an "occupier." The leaders of insurgency movements don't have resentment of the US as a motivation, but they certain feed off of it in recruiting support.

The way that people in the middle east in general perceive the nature of the war also has an important impact on Al'Q recruiting. If the international community, Arabs included, was "doing something" about Iraq, its a different story then if the United States is defying the UN to invade. It communicates a different message. If would have been more difficult to spin the idea that the Christian Infidels were attacking the holy land if the effort had broad international support. As it is, people in the Arab word are pissed off about it, and it feeds Al'Q.

] But the real pain to the Europeans may well have been far more
] than just financial.

Thats true, but those attacks would have been less strategically effective. The rift between the U.S. and Europe has driven Europe left. BL certainly seeks to take advantage of that. If he can whittle away at European support for anti-terror efforts (ironically by terrorizing them) then it gets more difficult for the U.S. to operate.

A Europe and US who were soundly united on international security and operating resolutely to handle it would be both stronger and more legitimate.

RE: About That Iraq Vote