Insularity

Here's an excerpt from Juan Cole's post today:

[F]ormer Iraqi cabinet minister, Ali Allawi recently put forward in the Independent a more promising peace proposal. It is worth reading in full, but here are the money grafs:

' The first step must be the recognition that the solution to the Iraq crisis must be generated first internally, and then, importantly, at the regional level. . . No foreign power, no matter how benevolent, should be allowed to dictate the terms of a possible historic and stable settlement in the Middle East. . .

Secondly, the basis of a settlement must take into account the fact that the forces that have been unleashed by the invasion of Iraq must be acknowledged and accommodated. These forces, in turn, must accept limits to their demands and claims. That would apply, in particular, to the Shias and the Kurds, the two communities who have been seen to have gained from the invasion of Iraq.

Thirdly, the Sunni Arab community must become convinced that its loss of undivided power will not lead to marginalisation and discrimination. . .

Fourthly, the existing states surrounding Iraq feel deeply threatened by the changes there. That needs to be recognised and treated in any lasting deal for Iraq and the area. . .

The Iraqi government that has arisen as a result of the admittedly flawed political process must be accepted as a sovereign and responsible government. No settlement can possibly succeed if its starting point is the illegitimacy of the Iraqi government or one that considers it expendable.

Mr. Allawi's plan was widely hailed by politicians and by journalists and analysts in Britain, but in the insular US it has barely gotten a hearing.

It's really that last comment that I find so telling. This has been FRONT PAGE NEWS in the UK for the past several days, but where in America have you seen it? Speaking for myself, the only place I have seen it is while scanning foreign news media on the net.

By the way, one problem with having your head stuck in the sand is that your butt is sticking up in the air.