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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Dayuhan who wrote (34596)	7/18/2002 12:38:23 PM
From: LindyBill	Respond to of 281500

many Americans find it difficult to comprehend how difficult it is to establish democracy in these situations. I think we have a better chance when the population is educated. At least we have the example of what can work, Turkey. It is far better than any of the Dictatorships, Feudal Kingdoms, or Theocracies in the area. In any case, I think we are going to find out next year!

To: Dayuhan who wrote (34596)	7/18/2002 12:46:44 PM
From: JohnM	Respond to of 281500

Voting is not based on issues or parties as we know them, but on clan or ethnic lines. The winning parties use their positions not to build the nation but to advance the interests of their own group. Other groups become aggrieved, and seek redress in extralegal ways. Robert Kaplan makes much the same points in some of his work, in which he argues that the first order of business should be some form of stability which promises a better life for most, then begin to worry about democracy. I'm well into Stephen Cohen's recent book on Russia, Failed Crusade, in which he argues somewhat the same point.

To: Dayuhan who wrote (34596)	7/18/2002 1:50:03 PM
From: jcky	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

Americans may find it difficult to comprehend the scope of our undertakings in both Afghanistan and Iraq, but the policy makers are very well aware of the pitfalls. And it is exactly the lacking of a clear post-Saddam vision by the Bush Administration which troubles me deeply. On a superficial level, this criticism may appear partison but let's not forget our previous support for the mujahideen in Afghanistan, with the subsequent fallout of the Taliban and al-Qaida, transcended the Reagan, Bush 1.0, and Clinton Administrations. This worry is beyond politics. It about national interest. It's the worse scenarios I am concerned with. And of course, a dependent client state would either entail a UN presence to maintain order and peace and American tax payer dollars to support, yet, another leadership structure without necessarily the blessing of the populace.