Hawk, I keep asking you to give us a pragmatic, realistic assessment of the likelihood of success for the currently defined Iraqi "mission," i.e.; "what is it that you've seen or read that makes you think that there is any REAL possibility that some form of beneficial democracy could exist in Iraq?"
And you continue to answer with.....platitudes and slogans.
Surely you can do better?
Your latest post contains simplistic generalities.
First you say that "democracy is a necessary condition for a civilized society." Where is that written? In societies torn by implacable hatreds and strife do you really think that empowering the faction with the most votes will create a "civilized society?" Or are you simply confusing "our way" with "the way?"
Then you say that "[a]ll we should be truly concerned about it insuring that the democratic system is preserved no matter who is elected. Or really? If the Iraqis elected Saddam Hussein and he took office with the same goals and brutality we previously accused him of would you say that "all we should be truly concerned about is that the democratic system is preserved?" What if the duly elected Shiites take power and brutalize the Sunnis? No concerns right, after all as long as it's majority rule it must be right.
Life's realities aren't structured by slogans written in stone. Every situation, every culture, and every society is different and unique. What works best will vary depending on a myriad of factors that change from one point in time to the next. If left to evolve, peoples and cultures will find the courage and the wisdom to arrive at workable solutions to their own problems. We can lead by example and sometimes we can help where needed but we can't socially and politically "engineer" societies to adopt and employ our views and our methods.
But you can't seem to recognize that simple truth. And you're in deep denial when it comes to facing the FACTS AND REALITIES that destroy the underlying assumptions of your simplistic "give them democracy and they will change" mantra. The facts are that the majority Shiites will almost certainly use their democratically elected powers to impose their deeply held and intolerant religous views. And those goals have little to do with creating an enlightened society where women are treated with respect, where other sects are full class citizens with rights guaranteed by courts and an impartial police force, where the freedom to worship as one pleases is not constrained by the state and where the population strives to live in peace with its neighbors.
You won't acknowledge that because you refuse to admit that intolerant majorities don't elect tolerant leaders to protect the rights of others, intolerant majorities elect intolerant leaders who will further their goals of suppressing those who worship, believe or look different. If you allowed yourself to understand that self evident fact you'd recognize the patently obvious danger of installing a democracy in a divided, intolerant society.
But you could always fall back on the tired cry of the fearful. Oh, wait, you already did:
"I guess you're more concerned with the 2,200 servicemen who have died performing their duties, and TOTALLY FORGET the 3,000 innocent people who died on 9/11.
I guess you need to see even more carnage inflicted on our country then before you finally accept the fact that we're involved in a war with Al Qai'da and Islamo-Fascism. And we need to fight them wherever they are, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Yemen.. and if necessary, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan...
It's not my fault that Al Qai'da invaded Iraq and joined forces with the Ba'thists and Sunnis. They are there and they will remain there if we opt to cut and run...
And while you're counting bodies, why not start countying the number of dead Iraqis who have been slained by our enemy, Al Qai'da..
Or maybe you don't believe that Al Qai'da is our enemy... Maybe you want to take Zawahiri and Bin Laden up on that "truce", eh??"
Before you get all jiggy about how we're fighting Al Queda in Iraq you might try answering my questions about how it's going over there. You might try explaining why it is that since our invasion the cancer cells of Al Queda terrorism seem to have gotten into the world's bloodstream and are now spreading undetected among the nations of the world. You might try explaining why the great benevolence you attribute to our efforts in Iraq seems to be viewed far differently by an incensed Muslim population which is driving moderate Muslims out of power.
In other words, you might try questioning the simplistic, mistaken and dangerous assumptions you clutch to your heart like a worn picture of the faithless lover who jilted you. You might ask yourself what facts and realities you can muster to support theories and policies which have long since proven to be empty, unworkable and foolish. Maybe then you can start thinking with your head instead of your emotions. We owe that to the next family that buries a soldier, and the next, and the next. Ed |
