Will our crazed attempt to nation build in Iraq stop us from trying the same thing in Iran after the coming election? Don’t bet on it! Win or lose, the neocoms are determined to pursue their policies for as long as Bush remains in office.

The Nation Building Game

Tired of Bingo, tired of Scrabble?
Let’s take a crack at the ultimate dabble.
We’ll start with a land that has ill-defined borders,
And make it a nation while acting as warders.

We’ll send in some bombers and airborne divisions
To bring about needed regime change revisions.
As Predators make lazy circles above,
We’ll dole out the Hershies to win locals’ love.

If old ethnic hatreds are rife on the ground,
We’ll substitute free institutions more sound.
A two-fisted press, bi-yearly elections,
We know all the best ways, we’re full of suggestions.

The key to preventing untoward fragmentation
Is wearing it down with a long occupation.
In bottomless sinkholes we’ll never be sunk;
That’s his’try warning, but his’try’s bunk.

If good infrastructure is what people lack,
We know the right folks with whom to contract.
Of course there’s a price for these experts’ hard toil,
But money’s no problem, they’ll toil for oil.

For five years, for ten years, whatever it takes,
This game is our mission, we’ll learn from mistakes.
With practice enough, with this game you get clever
So we’ll play it again—
We’ll play it forever.

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