Blogcritics: Comments on Where do they go from here?

Comment by Dave Nalle

Tue, 1 Feb 2005 12:38:40 EST

The people who are afraid that Iran may have undue influence in Iraq are just ignorant about the relations between the two countries. Despite the Shiite government in Iran, Iraqis hate Iran and hate its government, including Iraqi Shiites. They also have a strong secularist tradition, so while they might develop a home-grown government which has some theocratic tendancies it will almost certainly be more moderate than what you find in Iran and it will likely do everything it can to distance itself from Iran politically. The two countries are natural rivals and enemies and that trumps religion and ideology. Dave

Comment by JR

Tue, 1 Feb 2005 12:05:29 EST

This 'government' we gave "birth" to might turn out to be a spoiled hellion with ADD. Wait, are you talking about the one in Iraq or the one in the U.S.?

Comment by Shark

Tue, 1 Feb 2005 10:39:25 EST

(Temple, no offense, but about half the time, I think about half your sentences are missing and/or incomplete. ie. ~Wha?) re: Iraq's future - Frankly, I'm not convinced the place can run effectively without some kickass dictator in charge. This 'government' we gave "birth" to might turn out to be a spoiled hellion with ADD. We'll see.

Comment by sapere aude

Tue, 1 Feb 2005 10:35:14 EST

Promises? In Iraq? Were promises made? Presiden Bush? Yes. No, death is not academic, just another body, but people wouldn't know until it's one of their own.

Comment by Temple Stark

Tue, 1 Feb 2005 10:19:59 EST

Dude, this isn't an academic exercise. I think people are dying over there. Hopefully less now, but I don't believe anyone's "promises" when they just don't know.

Comment by sapere aude

Tue, 1 Feb 2005 08:44:23 EST

Aaman, I'm just thinking that President Bush's agenda was to bring Democracy to the Iraqi people. Key word being Democracy. I say, in time, the Iraqi people will decide their destiny. Many are saying that Iraq is now a democratic country because of the recent election. I disagree. Certainly, it's a beginning, but even a new toy is foreign to a child, and even then, it might not fly. Nothing wrong with an Islamic Republic, but again, is this what Bush and his policy advisors want? I think not.

Comment by Aaman

Tue, 1 Feb 2005 08:18:41 EST

Your post indicates it would be wrong for Iraq to be an 'Islamic Republic' or Islamic for that matter. Although examples may be sparse, democracy and Islam are not contradictory. The Sunni form of Islam, for that matter, is founded on public consensus as the means for social governance, the essence of democracy. It is very likely that the form of Islamic government chosen by Iraq, were it to come to that, will represent the Shia majority, more attuned to diktat - like in Iran. Your post is valid here - but again, to not allow democracy to flower from within might mean it would be shortlived.