Democracy to the Iraqi people?

Question

We are in Iraq and I hear a lot about bringing democracy to the Iraqi people, yet here at home the current administration and the republican party look at anyone who differs in thought or opinions as "Nazi Appeasers". What good is it to give Iraq democracy and freedom of speech and choice, when dissent is being looked down upon by the current administration?

Answer 1

True. Interesting how the current governement is spending millions of dollars in resources and military forces to try to "bring democracy to the Iraqi people" yet people die in the US for lack of good healthcare or delayed governmental action to hurricane striken areas.
Since when is the government so altruistic, selfless and oh so generous? Where was it when there were millions that died in Rwanda, who by the way did ask for help as opposed to Iraq? Where is it now that thousands are dying in Darfur?
It's not to help the Iraqi people that it's there, the government couldn't care less......whatever the motivation is, you can bet everything that it's more US profit oriented than anything.

Answer 2

You need to distinguish between heated discussion, on the one hand, and controlling /limiting free speech on the other. It is common among both political parties to use a wide range of arguments to suggest that their opponents' views are wrong. Some of those techniques include suggesting that people are unpatriotic (republican tactic), don't care about the poor or minorities (democratic tactic), or are blind followers (both parties). But this is 100% consistent with strong protection of free speech and a robust political dialogue. Calling your opponents Nazi appeasers is relatively tame compared to some of the name calling that happened during the creation of the constitution. Guaranteeing freedom of speech was never meant as a guarantee of freedom from ridicule or pressure as a result of your free speech. But the fact that you have this question and can ask it is evidence that we continue to have strong free speech protections. Every conceivable criticism of the current administration can easily be found in print and online within a matter of minutes. How much media attention has been given to opponents of the war? to wacky conspiracy theories about the Administration and Mosad committing 9/11? to Cindy Sheehan? In a country like Iraq under Saddam Hussein, one would never know that such opponents existed (and they wouldn't - for long).

Perspective is essential: you need to compare living in societies where women can be burned to death or have their lips cut off for speaking out in the smallest way; to a man's entire family being tortured and killed because he's a dissident; to striking a deal with Google ensuring they will censor information available over the internet that might be critical of the government (China). Compare this to being called a few names for the most radical dissention short of violence. There's no comparison.

Answer 3

I think democracy is a luxury to the Iraqi people now and that most probably just want peace, the ability to walk to the market without getting shot at, consistent electricity, jobs, things like that. In other words, Iraqis, at least the ones in the 4 most populous provinces, are more concerned with meeting their survival needs than with free speech.

I agree the current administration, particularly Cheney, has been saying that we shouldn't criticize the president's war policies, because it's a time of war. However, they're not putting people in jail for criticizing the president, at least not yet.

Answer 4

Democracy doesn't mean everyone agrees and we all live happily ever after. There are different parties, because people have honest, heartfelt different beliefs. It's an arguement that "some" on the Democratic side want to "appease" the Terrorists. President Bush has never said that. Cheney has hinted around to it, but he never used the word Nazi to my knowledge. The Republicans DISSENT from the liberal opinion. In Response, they claim their DISSENT is looked down upon. That's ridiculous and illogical.

Answer 5

Your tone makes a correlation that the Bush administration is running Iraq like some kind of 51st state or US Lite. It will, hopefully soon, be completely up to Iraq to decide what they will allow. If you want to see dissent really put down, look at China, N. Korea, Iran, or Cuba.

Answer 6

The administration does not look down on dissent, it is the members of the party that look down on it.

If you truly support the war on terror should you not support the war in Iraq? Iraq has never been linked to any terrorist group so it is taking forces away from the war on terror.

Answer 7

Your comments encompassing "all republicans" is as ignorant as a Republican calling all Democrats Communists. Your part of the problem and don't even see it. The left and right have victoriously divided us as a nation so that they can share power. Thus the 85% of America has no true representation. Time for a peaceful revolution if you ask me.

Answer 8

Why give Iraq democracy when they want Sharia law? Leave them to do things on their own and if they become a threat again we would just have to attack them again.

Answer 9

freedom can be a bad thing in my eyes
how far does freedom go before it is considered "gone wild"
the constitution of the US has so many amendments made to it nobody knows what it means. this is where we differ so much they are guided by religion as we used to be but "freedom" has took God out of our schools and out of the government.
our laws are so complicated we have to have a supreme court to interperate them for us. which is also using the same consitution that changes frequently. nobody knows what is right and wrong anymore

Answer 10

Well spoken.