It's official. Iraq is a humanitarian, political and economic disaster. Yet the only people still trying to come up with a positive spin are the people who started it - US President George W. Bush and Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair.

But spinning without substance has its limits. On the streets of the US, Iraq is being compared to Vietnam where once again Americans were ideological invaders "defending" the free world from an "evil" system.

So now the self-appointed "rescuers" of Iraq, who turned a functioning cohesive nation into a living nightmare, need to the rescued themselves. The question is how?

The biggest assumption is the US actually wants to be rescued. The recent re-balancing of power in the US Congress and the declining influence of the neocons suggest they do.

For those of us who condemned the war from day one the unpalatable reality is this. Whatever the rationale that originally took troops into Iraq, the governments of this region must help them leave.

Iraqis are so fed up that some speak nostalgically about Saddam's era. Those days were bad but Iraq held together when Saddam was in power. A strong figurehead really does make a difference in countries vulnerable to sectarianism.

But until a benevolent "national hero", respected by Iraqis and people throughout the region, emerges in Iraq, someone who is capable of gluing that nation back together, we must look at practical alternatives. First, the Americans must agree to withdraw - publicly, loudly and quickly.

Coalition troops should be replaced with peacekeepers from friendly Arab nations. Arab police keepers, geared towards policing rather than offensive military action, should be led by Saudi Arabia. Included should be contingents from GCC nations and other Arab countries. Importantly, these forces must be independent from all Coalition military or civil commanders.

Peacemakers

Such regional peacemakers must work closely with a united Iraqi government free of foreign influence and be tasked to directly liaise with the Iraqi police and army.

The duration of stay should be predetermined and it should be made clear to the Iraqis that Arab troops are not mandated to impose an external agenda or make any territorial gains.

There needs to be political changes too. A Western-style democracy will not suit the pressing needs of Iraq at this juncture when Iraq's economic and social recovery should take priority. Indeed, the hybrid systems of governance adopted by most thriving GCC countries would offer stability, economic opportunity and enable crucial long term planning.

Let's be realistic. In the state that Iraq is in today it cannot afford the luxury of political infighting or ambitious vote-seeking politicians jostling for position. It needs a government of wise and experienced Iraqi patriots able to set aside their sectarian biases for the good of all and who are strong enough to reject becoming puppets of foreign entities. Purple fingers are no substitute for security, jobs, education and healthcare.

GCC nations could advise on a political system tailor-made for Iraq based on the concept of forgiveness and reconciliation and they could also provide economic and financial expertise. However, the GCC and other Arab nations should not be landed with the bill. The US is responsible for this mess and it should cover expenses related to Arab peacekeepers as well as the costs of reconstruction. It should also pay compensation to victims' families.

America must further reassure the people of this region that it will never disrupt this region again using false pretexts and manipulated intelligence.

This solution is not a panacea for ending all violence but without the scapegoat of foreign invaders a full scale countrywide civil war will probably be averted.

In a nutshell, the US should leave the country its wealth, leave the country alone and leave the Iraqi people to rebuild their nation ... with a little help from their neighbours and friends.

- Khalaf Al Habtoor is a businessman and chairman of Al Habtoor Group.