03-29-2003, 06:45 AM
Somehow I don't think very many Iraqi's would be amused with your garden analogy, Occhi. Nevertheless, you are right -- very often valid social change begins in violent ways. This war may very well work out to be a bloody but ultimately benefitial intervention. Or at least I'm hoping it will... now that the violence has begun.
As for Democracy in Iraq: I'm sure that a peaceful, represative, democratic government would be the best thing for the citizens of Iraq. What I'm wondering is if they will chose to endorse or maintain such a system? And does it really matter? The necessary qualities of a post-war Iraqi government can be met in a number of ways, democratic or otherwise. If the Iraqis end up wanting to adopt a system similar to Saudi Arabia or Syria, is the coalition going to force them to hold elections? As long as their new system doesn't endorse terrorists, build WMDs or neglect the needs of half the population, should the west decide how they develop?
I think the answers to these questions will go a long way to determining the length and nature of US entanglement in Iraq. Hell, the answers go a long way towards determining our relations with the rest of the middle east as well.
Thinking about the war in general: I really didn't want it to start. Now, from my vantage point on the sidelines, I really really want it to be over. I've just about stopped watching the news - seeing British and American soldiers getting shot up isn't my idea of a good time. It would be worth tolerating any amount of swaggering American bravado just to see the 7th cavalry smash Sadam's regime tomorrow.
Cheers.
As for Democracy in Iraq: I'm sure that a peaceful, represative, democratic government would be the best thing for the citizens of Iraq. What I'm wondering is if they will chose to endorse or maintain such a system? And does it really matter? The necessary qualities of a post-war Iraqi government can be met in a number of ways, democratic or otherwise. If the Iraqis end up wanting to adopt a system similar to Saudi Arabia or Syria, is the coalition going to force them to hold elections? As long as their new system doesn't endorse terrorists, build WMDs or neglect the needs of half the population, should the west decide how they develop?
I think the answers to these questions will go a long way to determining the length and nature of US entanglement in Iraq. Hell, the answers go a long way towards determining our relations with the rest of the middle east as well.
Thinking about the war in general: I really didn't want it to start. Now, from my vantage point on the sidelines, I really really want it to be over. I've just about stopped watching the news - seeing British and American soldiers getting shot up isn't my idea of a good time. It would be worth tolerating any amount of swaggering American bravado just to see the 7th cavalry smash Sadam's regime tomorrow.
Cheers.