Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Formerly About Advanced Micro Devices -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: RetiredNow who wrote (215419)	1/19/2005 8:56:30 PM
From: tejek	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1574679

you said: However, we have to remember that we did not start out as free as we are now. It took time......lots of it. Democracy doesn't always happen in one fell swoop. I couldn't agree with you more. Why is it that you believe that Iraq should be a successful after only 2 years of U.S. intervention then? I hear you and other declaring Iraq a disaster after only 2 years, but it takes time to build a Democracy. The true conclusion on Iraq will only come after 10-15 years, not within 2 years. The American colonists wanted freedom and were willing to fight for that freedom......no matter how abridged compared to today. The Iraqis do not seem to care. A few are making the effort but most are not. Like I have said before, THE PEOPLE in capital letters have to want democracy for it to have a chance of working. Iraqis are no where closeIMO. As far as our history with Iran goes, I agree. We misplayed our hand there badly for many years. But you have to admit that this thing goes both way. Khomenie and now Khamenei have made it impossible to have a true thaw in relations between our countries. And remember Rafsanjani still holds quite a bit of sway in Iran and he is as virulent as Muslims come. Have we given Khemeini or Khamenei a choice? We support Israel unilaterally.......Israel can do no wrong. Do you not think that insults all Muslims? We supported the Shah over Khomeini; then Saddam over Khomeini. What was Khomeini to do? Beg us for our support. I wish Mani posted more frequently. His family is Iranian and he could give us a better picture of what life is like in the country now. My feelings about Iran are that they are the most promising of the ME countries in terms of becoming a modern, prosperous democratic state. Its population is fairly well educated by ME standards and the country is a decent size. They are not Arab and do not have some of those hang ups. There is a significant middle class developing and they have oil and other important resources........plus a reasonably diverse climate. Its a great combo......of course, the negative is the strict Shia background. If the religious overtones could be subdued a notch, I think Iran could prove to be a leader in the ME. ted