In our wildest imangination(s), how could we possibly think that we can "democratize" a Middle East country,

Question

namely Iraq.

They are of a different ilk than the Japanese/Germans following WW11.

Why can't the powers that be understand this?

When religious absolutes conflict with ours, the value of life,etc how can they be persuaded to accept our viewpoint?

What they really want is for us to leave them alone--LEAVE THEIR AREA AND MIND OUR OWN BUSINESS. I say, Let's let them stew in their own juice.

There'll never be peace there until this happens.

In spite of our technologies, I support "isolationism".

I retract my statement about isolationism--"ain't no such animal" anymore.

The 80-90% radical Islamists should keep us all awake at night.

Their philosophy "convert or die", no other alternative...

Answer 1

This would not be the first democracy in the middle east, so it has possibilities. We are not asking the people of Iraq to adopt western ideas or culture, simply a government of the people and not the dictators.

You might be a tad naive about the people wanting the US to leave, they know better than anyone that complete chaos will replace relative calm, once our troops are gone.

The peace issue has more to do with Syria and Iran who are stoking these anti-peace initiatives, so until they decide to keep out of the affairs of other country's, this will continue and might even escalate, if someone decides to take them to task. They are more guilty than anyone for invading other country's. We would leave tomorrow if the Iraq government asked us to leave. Do you think they would leave?

Isolationism has a nice sound to it, and might have worked fifty years ago, but it's too late for that. It would mean that we would turn our backs on our allies and that we cannot do. In a way, Clinton did that with his diplomacy attempts, when stronger measures were needed. Had he done his job then, we would have far fewer issues to deal with today.

Answer 2

Well there are several things wrong with your thinking the Islamic extremist's don't want to let bygones be bygones. They are hell bent on destroying the western ideologies. Isolationism doesn't work look at the Lusitania's. We were isolationists before that but look at what happened. Same thing with Pearl Harbor. In the extremists eyes their are only two camps. Muslim and non-Muslim. Its always been like that and nothing will change that. As for Democracies thriving in the Middle East. Look at Iran they had an election. Granted it was a religious zealot that won but non the less an election.

Answer 3

I would say that the best reason for thinking this is the fact that the Iraqi people voted for a constitutional democracy in October of last year. And about 11 months ago voted in a Parliament.

Your failure to pay attention does not mean that progress has not been occurring in Iraq.

Just because Al Queda and Iran do not want democracy in Iraq does not mean that the Iraqi people don't.

Answer 4

Try to imagine that you are going to democratize a country with a bomb, and see what happens. That's what Bush did, and disaster hit. Actually, there are few democracies in the Arab world. They are all despotic regimes, including the brutal Saudi regime supported by the US.

Democracy is a great thing, but one can't spread it with a bomb, or enforce it. Democracy only comes from the people and the right kind of support is needed. America could have done that if it took that initiative properly. With the mess in Iraq, I don't think that America can contibute democracy in the region in anyway, anyhow (that would take a miracle). Its up to the Arab peoples and the leaders now.

Answer 5

*It is a lot easier to see that now than it was when we started. The people seemed ready for it. Certainly they have moved to the US in great numbers.

I don't think there is any hope of peace anyway. The radical islamists have been preparing for war with us for a LONG time. They declared war on us on 9/11.

Answer 6

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