Article

2003-04-15 Iraq

Iraq: Real change requires region-wide change

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Posted by Anonymous 2003-04-15 09:00 am|| || Front Page|| [12 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Democracy did not come overnight for South Korea or Tawian. Kuwait and Qutar are trying, with baby-steps, to follow the right course. The region is not hopeless, just behind the curve.

Posted by Yank 2003-04-15 10:42:28|| 2003-04-15 10:42:28|| Front Page Top

#2 "This is doubtful, because to transform the Middle East, the US has to contend with the fact that none of the Arab countries are at present truly democratic."

He's too pessimistic - the region is far different than it was in 1917.

Iraq is bordered by Turkey a democracy. By Jordan and Kuwait, neither a democracy, but both with some liberal elements in their political systems. Israel is also a regional example of a democracy - generally not a model for arabs, but Iraq for unique reasons may be an exception.

In 1917 the Iraqis were liberated from the Ottomans - Arab nationalism looked like a hopeful new departure. Today they know the costs of Arab (as opposed to Iraqi) nationalism. In 1917 the Kurds were actively trying to get a seperate state - today their leaders are much more realistic.

So IMO it is possible to change Iraq, without first changing the whole region. Changed Iraq will then lead to further changes in the region.

Posted by liberalhawk 2003-04-15 10:17:34|| 2003-04-15 10:17:34|| Front Page Top

#3 wake up bozo's...democracy is nothing more than mob rule...just ask the prez to confirm this!!

Posted by Anonymo 2003-04-15 12:57:04|| 2003-04-15 12:57:04|| Front Page Top

#4 The big thing is to export a Republic of Laws, under a Federal system, with democratic means for sustaining it.

That is, the rights of individuals should be established first - laws that no government can unreasonably abridge - liek our bill of rights.

Then the laws supporting local government - cities and states - is especially important in Iraq, since it has severla distinc cultrual and ethnic area, historically.

After all that, a Federal (over-arching) system is needed to provide some unity and the ability for each of the localities to benefit from the strengths of the others, and to provide for the common defense. The other duty the Federal system would have is to guarantee those individual rights against state-local encroachment.

And the bottom line way to establish this is through a 1-person 1-vote system, be it parliamentary (UK) or representative (US), with some sort of a bicameral legislative body (one proposing, the other disposing).

And of course a seperate court system to judge the laws.

This is going to take a while.

Posted by OldSpook 2003-04-15 14:28:16|| 2003-04-15 14:28:16|| Front Page Top

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