There are other thing we would like to achieve, we would like to have democracy, we would like to have human rights, we would like to have women’s rights and we should try to encourage the Iraqis on that direction but when it comes really down to the bottom line these are desirable things we would wish to have but the must have is to try to have a functioning government. It is not a source of instability in the region, it’s not a haven for terrorist. I brought a long Tom Ricks who got a new book which is I think a great book to gamble and he has a very striking ending line and I think it is much along the lines of Ryan Crocker’s view whom I’m heard talked and that is he says that the things that we will remember Iraq for in this situation that we remember the most for but not yet happened. So, that’s kind of thought provoking ending of it. I recommend the Ricks’ book and there is a great book by Ali Allawi, the occupation of Iraq. The only Iraqi really to write a terrific book in English with a narrow perspective and I think the beginning of the book, the first 60 odd pages are really fantastically good if you have a chance to read it. Anyway that’s where I come out in this country. I hope we can achieve them and we must try to do that and I think we can but it is still too early to know what’s gonna happen and I’m sure there will be more crisis before we get to a reasonable solution of this critical problem. Thank you.
Allan: Thank you very much, David. I’d like to ask you a question.
David: Yeah.
Allan: Can you talk a little bit please, what you foresee as the long-term consequences of Iraq for the region? Ah, the Bush administration went in trying to make Iraq an example and maybe it did but not in the way that it wanted at least initially.
How do you see this affecting the regions development and US relations with the Middle East or the longer terms or the next five years or so?
David: Yeah, that’s a good question and one very hard to answer I think. My sense is we have a certain hope especially among the military planners who are very good that we can still have Iraq as kind of de facto ally because we will still be there, that they will be a source of support for our friends in the Gulf and a kind of a ball work against Iran. I’m not at all sure of that at all. I think- I don’t take personally sovereignty day maybe some Americans do but the last few years have been very hard in Iraqi dignity and we have caused an awful lot of suffering in this country. I think in human terms they have something to celebrate although they may pay a certain price for it because we’ll find out whether they’re really ready to take it over. I think Iraq is gonna be a difficult situation for us for the next few years. I don’t think the political situation has settled down. We will learn a lot between now and next January when we have the elections, the national elections where Iraq is gonna end, but I think we’ll be fortunate if Iraq is not a problem in the area for us, but I think Iraq itself will be much too preoccupied of course to be a threat to anyone else. But if it can’t control its borders, it’s still gonna have a lot of difficulty. The feelings between Sunni and Shia are still there. I think Saudi Arabia is unlikely ever to be really reconciled with a Shia led government in Iraq and that’s certainly what’s gonna happen and whatever the outcome I think. And Jordan- oh, Jordan as well but that’s less of an issue. I think also feels that very strongly. So, I don’t- I think the hope that it can be kind of our friend and partner in the region are- is too optimistic. I’d be satisfied with a more neutral outcome. [Laughing]