larry bagina's Journal: of war and capitalism

It's not surprising that France, Germany, Russia, and the United Nations all want to "help" rebuild Iraq, just as it isn't surprising that they didn't want to kick out the tyrant dictator living their. All 4 have socialist tendencies -- large social safety nets.

Capitalism is based largely on risk. Those that take great risks may be rewarded for it (or, they may end up losing everything). Of course, risk alone does not make capitalism work. Every gambler learns that hte house always wins. But educated risk allows for countries like the United States to prosper.

Consider George Bush. If Iraq was another Vietnam, or even Somolia, he would be a guaranteed one-termer. A successful and short (though not yet complete) invasion/liberation proved that he was correct. In the death scale, the SARS virus is more effective than the Republican Guard. Whether or not Weapons of Mass Destruction are found, or Saddam's bones, the citizens of Baghdad sure looked happy tearing down their statues of Saddam, and, perhaps more importantly, other Arabs watched it on TV. Despite their hatred for the United States, despitetheir hope that he Iraqi Army would triumph, Arabs wathed Iraqis that were happy to see US Marines.

Meanwhile, the socialists sat on the sidelines, and belive they should be rewarded for it.