Political Cortex: Brain Food for the Body Politic

I have always believed that you gain more goodwill and credibility internationally when you can also offer nations a solution to their needs, rather than only a restraint from their wants.  One of the greatest contributors to the debacle in Iraq was that we were neither prepared nor equipped to engage in the reconstruction of the country after the Sadam's regime toppled.  We do not have an organization to help build the infrastructure of a country even if they ask for it, or if they desperately need it.

We began, as we have in the past, to rely on private contractors to do the reconstruction, which has brought with it a further set of profiteering and other problems, and which do not also fall under the umbrella of our diplomatic efforts.  We also, as we have in the past, have simply thrown cash at the problem, which has also brought with it the problems of graft and "playing on side off against another".

Barack Obama has talked about engaging our youth to do public/community works, and I applaud his idea about giving college students financial relief for participating.  What if this was broadened to other age groups, like the beginning of a volunteer army for construction, for education, for medical treatment?

We need to balance our foreign policy equation with this:  Yes, we will help you enter the world community.  We will help you lift the standard of living of your population.  If you acknowledge a basic set of human rights, a basic set of tolerance, of open trade, and recognition that we are all in this together, we will build with you.