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Editorial: Bush's 'nation building' The Patriot-News Harrisburg, Pa. It wasn't supposed to be this way. The Bush administration seemed to think that making quick work of Iraq's military force and sending Saddam Hussein's regime running would suffice to accomplish the much derided notion of "nation building." Instead, Americans are dying in Iraq on a daily basis, many Iraqis are openly hostile to the U.S. military presence, and most of the country's public services have yet to be restored to pre-invasion levels. Now, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says that more troops may be needed in Iraq to quell an organized resistance effort that is undermining rebuilding efforts. It would be nice if some of the additional troops were from other countries, but the administration didn't exactly endear itself to America's allies with its go-it-alone Iraqi strategy. In any event, the fact remains that we took on the task of restoring a legitimate, workable government in Iraq and rebuilding its infrastructure when we decided war was our only recourse. It's essential that our effort to get Iraq back on track is not shortchanged, either in manpower or material resources. The sooner the country is pacified completely, and the sooner some sense of normality returns to Iraq, the sooner Americans can be on their way. As with any war, let this be a lesson to pursue postwar nation rebuilding as vigorously as we pursue the war itself. Maybe we will get it right the next time, in the worst-case scenario that there should have to be a next time needs work LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -