Desperate solution 1: Celebrity endorsements

The impact of celebrity visits are hard to quantify in political movements. But it certainly doesn’t hurt, unless you invite Michael Jackson. Ideally the celebrity brings a project with them to Baghdad, like an album release, a book signing party, or a world premiere movie event, so it frames Baghdad as a city still on its feet rather than a war zone waiting to happen. Statesmen types and international superstars are important, but it’s the youth culture that has to be activated, so bring the people the kids in Baghdad and around the world like.

First Tier

• Nelson Mandela
  
• Jimmy Carter
  
• Justin Timberlake
  
• Jennifer Lopez
  
• Shakira
  
• Bono
  
  

Second Tier

• Jackie Chan
  
• Jesse Jackson
  
• Enrique Englasies
  
  

Desperate solution 2: Tourism as political action

Iraq is beautiful. People are kind and generous and the history of the country is steeped in traditions that go back to the dawn of civilization. Such a marvelous place should not be bombed out of existence just because the US wants to control the Iraqi oil supply.

Thousands, if not millions, of people will have to be on the streets, around the world, to scare the governments enough to think twice about waging a war without the consent of their citizens. Barring that, I would settle for hundreds and thousands of people from around the world to be in Baghdad as tourists. The economy here desperately needs a boost and the US/UK might think twice about invading if thousands of their own are in Baghdad, shopping in suks and realizing that Iraqis do not hate Americans, want to engage in dialogue (since most speak English), and know that an invasion will throw the country into another chaotic mess most Iraqis cannot afford to go through again. Think of it as a transnational sit-in, with opportunities for peacemaking and shopping.