[WRhine]

BTW, I also think the nation-building in Iraq is a worthwhile experiment, even though I think it's likely to fail as long as Islam remains deeply rooted there.

I detect a slight contradiction there Tooth. Your second point is the correct one. Islam and Democracy (any kind of self-determination) are mutually exclusive. In nearly every country where Islam reigns supreme the government invariably becomes folded in with " Sharia” Law—a (barbaric) set of Islamic laws that runs contrary to about every democratic principle. Turkey, the possible exception to this rule, nevertheless struggles mightily in barely making it work.

My prediction on Iraq is that we will get them off to a good start on the road to self-rule. It will appear to work for awhile....then the Wheels Will Come Off and they will be back to where they stared.

It's hard to understand the naivete some here have about Islam. And I have to wonder what it will take to finally shake our elected officials from their politically correct stupor. When our government CONTINUES to allow more than 200,000 M.E. Muslims to immigrate into America every year (incredibly despite 911) we are just asking for civil strife, conflict, and more terrorism in our future.

I can't think of anything that is more diametrically opposed with the Freedoms, Principles and Customs that America was founded on than Islam.

[Sabertooth]

I detect a slight contradiction there Tooth.

Well, the paradox is that failed experiments aren't failures. The goal of an honest experiment is to learn more facts, more truth, not to achieve some desired outcome.