I think things would have to be a lot worse in many ways before the situation is as bad as Sadaam's dictatorship. It's too soon to condemn. Maybe they'll make a strong government with equal representation for the many different sects and learn to solve disagreements throught the political process rather than violence. I hold hope that's the case.
About 70% of Iraqis say they are better of now than under Saddam. Iraq will continue to have problems, heck which country doesn't? Even if there is still some violence it's better than living under a dictatorship.
I would hesitate comparing Iraq with Germany. While we've had a presence in Germany we are in no way occupying them and haven't since the 1950's.
I think this is great news. Whether you supported the invasion or not I think we all would like to see the Iraqis have stability and be able to govern themselves.
look, I'm know I'm going to get labeled a good news hater, but the question isn't will this people vote or accept democracy. the biggest problem in iraq is will these people defend themselves?
I don't consider you a good news hater. I'm very hopeful this vote will lead to a great future for Iraq. But the biggest question in Iraq is can the country stay together in one piece without an iron-fisted dictator. Can an elected government gain enough traction to prevent Sunni fanatics from provoking the Shia's into civil war? Bottom line: If the insurgency remains very strong, the party is over and the invasion will be a failure in everybody's eyes except for Bush and Cheney. We can only hope an elected government, along with a pulldown of U.S. troops, can quell support for the (Sunni) insurgents. If not, the Shia's will run out of patience and a vicious civil war will result. If the country fractures and the Kurds start demanding their own state, Pakistan may invade. The elected government could lead to paralysis if factions cannot negotiate compromises quickly enough. Then the people of Iraq will lose faith in them and we are almost back to square one. It's OK to bask in the glow of this vote but be mindful of what a tinderbox Iraq is. The downside is as huge as the upside.
Didn't we already establish that Iraq wasn't a real country, but rather a hole in the ground? -U.S. Senate edit: Oh and if Iraq doesn't like democracy, I think a nuclear weapon will get the point across.
i think you need to check your map...unless pakistan has developed some sophisticated air and sea lift capability...
Brainlock. I meant Turkey. LOL. Sorry about that. My point was if Iraqi Kurds get too much autonomy, it will inflame the Turkish Kurds and Turkey isn't about to let that can of worms open again. The Kurdish issue is one that unites all Turks, whether they be fundamentalists, seculars, nationalists, lefties or intellectuals. In my personal opinion, the U.S. should be able to lean on the Iraqi Kurds enough to keep them calm. After all, the U.S. is basically the only government in the world that is friendly to them. If we exit Iraq, they would be at the mercy of the Turks, Arabs and Persians, who hate them.
We stayed in Germany 50 years to keep the Russians out. We will be in Iraq for 50 years to keep the Iranians out. (Germany now is just a convienent forward base to reach the middle east from.) I don't know how anyone could have asked for anything more than Theocratic Democracy in an Arabic/Muslim region. Theocracy is all the people there know and at least the Mullahs have code of social interaction. It may seem rigid and barbaric but compared with Autocracy, the only other option they have lived under for 2000 years, it gives some value to the common man (if not woman). We are there to promote a change in government and that's a very difficult challenge, but it would be a piece of cake compared with changing an entire culture. But the political competition between various factions should provide some balance through shifting alliances since neither Shia nor Sunni nor Kurd nor Secularist will have majority control.....if you keep Iran from exerting an overwhelming Shia influence from without.
Poor naive Iraqis. i only wish they dont endup with the same dictaorship as iran. a theocracy run by a bunch of uneducated mullahs.
I guess you missed the FOR NOW I wrote in the sentence you bolded on purpose... If I hated the news or that I'm upset about progress then I wouldn't like the progress in Iraq at any time.... And so what if you think the comment I presented are negative? I can't comment on the situation because you wrote how "fantastic" the news was? The prison abuse issue can be linked to the large Sunni turnout. If you're already deluded about the "fantastic" news, how much is my supposed negativity going to rain on your parade? Unless you have another unrelated bone to pick....
