Subj : Iraq and Democracy
To   : The Lizard Master
From : Angus McLeod
Date : Tue Oct 18 2005 01:12:00

  Re: Iraq and Democracy
  By: The Lizard Master to Frank Reid on Mon Oct 17 2005 09:20:00

 > Nobody really knows.  but my guess is that democracy will succeed, but not h
 > we want it.  If we truly will one day pull out....

Surely, an eventual pull-out is required?

 > ....they will elect fundamentalists like Angus suggests.  And in the 
 > end have another Iran.

Or worse, the two join up into one massive, fundamentalist, muslim power 
bloc that is much larger everyone else in the middle-east put together...

 > But, if the reason we are there is to truly let themselves govern, then we
 > should all be happy.

If the goal is to let them govern themselves, then the best thing to do is 
get out ASAP so the self-rule can begin with the minimum cost to the USA 
in terms of giba-bucks and human casualties. 

If the intent is to stabilize the area first, then arming and training the 
majority group historcally known for utilizing the DARK side of The Force 
isn't exactly clever.  Suppose it were the case that *both* groups were 
being equipped and trained so that there might be a chance of each being 
able to defend itself against the other.  Then there would at least be 
some argument for continuing.  But that is not the case.

You have a situation where the country is divided roughly two-to-one.  
The majority group has historically disliked the minority, and sought to 
eradicate them.  This same majority also happen to be the very 
fundamentalist whackos that are causing trouble all over the world.  So in 
order to stabilize the region and avoid a bloodbath, you give arms to the 
majority fundamentalist whackos, and hope that all will work out for the 
best, because deep down inside, they are all lovely people at heart?


---
 þ Synchronet þ Debatable wisdom from The ANJO BBS

.