Interesting- we condemned Fujimora in Peru for petty corruption and demanded his ouster even though he was elected but at the same time we were utterly silent when the military took over in Algeria becasue radical islamicists won the election. We support the dictaorship in Pakistan when they staged a coup of a demcratically elected government, in Yemen, and the corrupt elites of Eygpt and the Saudi kleptocracy is our best buddy according to Bush. We can hardly be seen as a force for "freedom" in that region with such a record. In fact I would seethe with rage if I were an Pakistanni radical whenever I heard the US bleep on about "democracy" and "freedom".
I have no doubt that if we were to invade Iraq it would be a cake walk. It would over in two weeks. And then we would even be treated to pictures of Iraqis kissing our boys in the streets on CNN. Then what? How long are we going to be there? How long before the shiites go after the ruling Sunnis? How long before terrorism and guerilla activity starts? It is already happening in Afghanistan now. And after Ira q then what? Are we going to take over an entire civilization of a billion people and trty to make them good little democrats like we did the germans and the Japanese?
I would guess that your premise is that in order for freedom to spread to all these countries, they would have to be militarily conquered and then administered, in some Neo-Empire "white man's burden" type of scenario? Is there any room in your world for the idea that when a corrupt and terrorist regime falls, that it changes the equation in ways that are not possibly straight line? That repressive regimes face internal pressures that can be tweaked and enhanced by our support but not neccessarily by military intervention has not occured to you? In addition, you seem to see US support of regimes that are non democratic but non-the-less manipulable renders all discussion of this subject academic and hypocritical. I am profoundly amazed and in awe of the demonstrations in Iran. That is courage. But it reminds me of the "Persians" I knew in University. Never underestimate the human desire for freedom.
regards