Edition: U.S. / Global  Democracy, Closer Every Day  By Noah
Feldman Published: September 24, 2003  Many Americans, not to
mention our European allies, may be shaking their heads over
President Bush's defiant speech at the United Nations yesterday.
With the coalition forces under daily attack and billions being
spent to rebuild Iraq, shouldn't Mr. Bush have been more
conciliatory in an effort to get other countries to send troops?
Actually, Mr. Bush was right to refuse a rushed transfer of
sovereignty to an interim Iraqi government as the price to pay
for greater international participation in the postwar effort.
The reconstruction of Iraq is a two-track process: one track for
security, one for politics. The problems on the security track
will not be overcome simply by bringing in more soldiers,
American or otherwise. Meanwhile, the political track has been
going much better than critics admit -- but it could be derailed
if the coalition fails to help Iraqis achieve security before
turning things over to an