Do the Math

While Iraq has been one of the most conventionally profitable wars for many in the community, it has rightfully devolved into a public relations nightmare. The American people have seen little economic gain from the strategic destabilization of Iraq, and although the withdrawal of excess combat troops has temporarily changed perceptions of the invasion, it will not be long before an over-sensitive American public begins to ask where the billions of dollars are going each month. Basically, Obama or the next president will have to at least maintain a faint appearance of progress in the situation if we are to see this thing through.

Of course, this is where the United States' legendary humanitarian record comes into play. Even critics of America's foreign policy acknowledge that no empire has been quite so merciful to those who do not stand in its way. We can buy a lot of time in Iraq if we establish a long-term humanitarian commitment to the country and its people.

When I speak of an humanitarian mission, I am not referring to the original plan of bringing democracy to Iraq. In fact, speaking about spreading democracy in the media so much has actually caused quiet conversations about the nature of American democracy itself, and the more the topic comes up, the more people start to question the American political machine. In this particular case, I believe that PR men can learn a thing or two from the economics department, specifically the illusion of percentages.

It is well-known that when one wants to fortify one's argument with quantitative authenticity, the best tactic is to use carefully calculated percentages, which are seen as easier to understand and more tangible than raw figures. In the Iraq case, the United States should shift to a careful discourse of humanitarian percentages. For example, there is a virtually endless supply of civilian Iraqi refugees and displaced persons, easily over four million total with over a million living in Syria alone. Now, as of present the U.S. government has only granted some hundreds, maybe a few thousand of these refugees visas, while the yearly influx of foreign immigrants and workers to the United States easily numbers in the hundreds of thousands. If the U.S. were to double or triple the number of Iraqi refugees given residence in the country, it would only represent a slight increase in total immigration, and quotas could be adjusted so as to create no difference whatsoever. This act could be presented as an increase in the humanitarian role of the U.S. in Iraq through let's say a 300% increase in total refugees accepted. With the economy as it is, it is likely than many will eventually choose to return home or emigrate to another country anyway when presented with the opportunity. This is just one of the ways in which the classic game of percentages might be employed to rectify a potentially awkward situation in the coming years.