Iraq’s embattled prime minister offered an olive branch to former supporters of Saddam Hussein, calling for them to join the country’s new leaders in a national peace process.
At the opening of peace talks, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki urged former soldiers from the ousted dictator’s defeated army to join Iraq’s new security forces in fighting the armed factions which are tearing the country apart.
He also urged delegates — including for the first time representatives of some of Iraq’s illegal armed groups — to review the law which banned tens of thousands of Saddam’s Baath Party activists from working in the civil service.
Politically, the return to public life of former Baath officials will raise the hackles of hardline Shiite militants, whose majority community was persecuted by Saddam’s Sunni-led regime.
I wonder if Iraq will end up with a government that looks like the “good old days” — just absent a guy named Hussein fronting the whole thing?
There are two reason why this regime will not prevail:
1. It’s seen as an American puppet regime by a lot of Iraqis.
2. The Middle East doesn’t have a tradition of democracy.
#3 The majority of islamic states are not peaceful or stable to begin with.
You can’t eliminate whole segments of your society from participation in goverment and expect to succeed, especially in a new form (to them) of goverment.(yes….I know we did that for 175 years).
But I just don’t see real democracy working in an Arab or Muslim state that isn’t totally secular. The one good example is Turkey, and even there the military has had to gurantee the secularness on a few occasions.
These countries all have a very long history of strongman rule, and I don’t know if it’s cultural or what, but it seems to be the only form of goverment that works for them.
#1: How do you classify “a lot of Iraqis”? Do you mean the 85% of the population that are trying to rebuild their society after decades of dictatorship, or the 15% who want to bring back fascism?
The Middle East is home to nation-states who are slowly adopting democracy, and some who are not. Kuwait, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq all are trying to implement some form of democracy, but are concerned with “too much too soon.”
#2 Oh so we should just leave them to their own demise? Also several Arab nations continue to make social/cultural/economic progress (ie Jordan, Kuwait, UAE, Qatar, & Saudi Arabia.
#3 You’re ignorant.
#4 I think you make some good points, but I believe that the majority of Arab nation-states are ready for representative government. There are undeniable trend lines that back this notion up, and it will just take time for them to find a system of government that fit their needs.
*To the Editor’s question…how about no.
#5
Perhaps an old poll, but I doubt it have improved.
It’s probably all lies to you, but the Shi’ites are losing confidence in the Government.
Democracy is such a relative word. DDR and DPRK both claimed/claims that they’re democratic in their names… were/are they?
I think you make some good points, but I believe that the majority of Arab nation-states are ready for representative government.
Majority? Name them…
Saudi Arabia.. a democracy? You’ve got to be kidding.
As #6 said, you can call almost anything a democracy.
#6 You posted a poll right after Abu Girhaib, if you run the linear regression to accomoadate for that incident I’ll give it more credit. The second story was pretty much the same thing. The Shiites are losing confidence in this government…I didn’t see where one was quoted as saying democracy as a whole was undesirable.
#6&8 A majority of Arab countries that have shown an interest in, and are moving towards (eventually 10-15 years adopt) democracy: Iran just got done with a recent election in which hardliners LOST the clear mandate that they had before. Goto C-Span.org listen to an interview with Thomas Barnett and he is quoting as saying that the majority of Iranians envy our system of government, & our free markets. Kuwait recently gave women the right to vote. Egypt allows individuals, be it more moderate individuals, from the Muslim Brotherhood to hold elected positions. Saudi Arabia is dabbling in local municipal elections. I’ll throw in Qatar but they only have a very benevolent dictator but there people seem to be happy, as he is not Saddam Hussein.
These are only a few examples off the top of my head, if I think of any more I will post’em up. Oh and to this “you can call anything a democracy” I look at the recent progress, intent, and future trends when deciding where a country is going politically, I rarely take the leaders word for it.
So did we win the war yet?
Whats our prize?
Peace and love forever and ever?
Oil?
Another strong ally that embraces democracy?
Bottom feeding nation that refuses to do anything while occupied and will most likely revert within a year without our help!!!!!
DING DING DING!