What are the Chances of Democracy in Iraq?

[Oddman]

Do you think we can bomb Iraq into a democracy?

[IHaveADream]

1. Let's see, there is a much of a chance of Democracy in Iraq

as there is a chance of bush scoring over 100 on an IQ test!!!

[BurnInHellFoxNews]

2. Haha.

Today in the honors 9th grade english class I teach, our vocab word of the day was "parternalism."

One student said, "Hey, isn't that kind of what America's doing in Iraq?"

I've taught them well.

[IHaveADream]

3. LOL!!!!!

[RafterMan]

4. 100%, but

"What are the Chances of Democracy in Iraq?"

and

"Do you think we can bomb Iraq into a democracy?"

are not the same question. I answered the first.

[IHaveADream]

6. point made but . . .

Isn't that what we are trying to do? Aren't we forcing our vision of democracy on the Iraqi people? Aren't we bombing them into submission? Do you honestly believe that democracy will take hold in the next 25 years let alone the next year?

[RafterMan]

12. Depends on what you mean by "trying to do"

I don't think Bush (or whoever is actually running the operation) gives a flip about democracy in Iraq. I can't identify any step taken over the past year leading in that direction. The actions have been at odds with the rhetoric.

As for democracy, the Kurds seem to have accepted the notion of being a minority within a greater democratic Iraq. The shiites have largely ignored al-Sadr's call for a general uprising, and Sistani has shown some enthusiasm for horse trading over the pure exercise of power. Further, there is a backlash against theocracy and for democracy among many Iranian shiite clergy, which looks like a helpful boost. The Sunnis are a wildcard, but have cast their operations as resistance to American occupation -- would they offer the same level of resistance to a popularly-elected Iraqi government offering cooperation on decent terms?

Here are two statements:
a) The violence in Iraq is caused by ham-fisted American bungling
b) The violence in Iraq is caused by the emergence of long-simmering sectarian disputes, held in check only by the presence of American power

If you believe (a) is more true than (b), then you have to give the Iraqis a good shot.

[DinahMoeHum]

5. Any semblance of a democracy in Iraq will be done on

the Iraqis' terms. Not ours. Their timetable, not ours.


:bounce:

[IHaveADream]

7. I agree, I don't think the Iraqis even want our democracy

I think they want something akin to the Iranian government.

[Oddman]

8. Did Ahmad Chalabi go to MIT?

[IHaveADream]

9. Yup

http://www.iraqinews.com/people_chalabi.shtml

[davidinalameda]

10. can we say snowball in hell?

:-)

[Vitruvius]

11. What are the chances of democracy in the US?

Will we -- or Iraq -- ever be free of the BFEE?

[Oddman]

13. Yes - America will return to a democracy on November 3rd

well make that January 20, 2005!!! Vote out the Evil Empire!!!