Tom Ricks's Inbox

Discussion Policy

Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.

Sunday, September 2, 2007

Some observers have taken a page from urban planning theory to describe Iraq as a "wicked problem" -- a term coined to describe complex and divisive issues, such as building a new highway through a city or finding a location for a large homeless shelter.

Here is one expert's explanation of the rules governing this kind of conundrum. They do indeed seem to illuminate the current U.S. policy impasse in Iraq:

* * *

1. You don't understand the problem until you have developed a solution.

Every solution that is offered exposes new aspects of the problem. . . .

2. Wicked problems have no stopping rule.

. . . The problem-solving process ends when you run out of resources, such as time, money, or energy, not when some optimal or "final and correct" solution emerges. . . .

3. Solutions to wicked problems are not right or wrong.

They are simply "better," "worse," "good enough" or "not good enough."

4. Every wicked problem is essentially unique and novel.. . .

5. Every solution to a wicked problem is a "one-shot operation."

CONTINUED 1 >