[WOSG]

"Optimism, however, is not in my nature. ... My Hopes are always with America"

Realism demands optimism in this case. Why? Optimism feeds confidence, which will aid the calm and reasoned approach that will give us success. So a realist will be optimistic out of desire for success if not out of second-nature. Since only defeatism can defeat us, why give it a single inch of ground?

Remember that Faith, *Hope*, and Charity are virtues. :-)

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

Realism demands optimism in this case.

No, it doesn't.

My HOPES are always with America, of course.

REALISTICALLY, however, I fully expect Iraq to be an Islamic Shi'ite Republic within the next Ten Years... the latest addition to the Greater Shi'ite Empire of Tehran and Baghdad.

• How exactly do you propose to avoid Shi'ite Hegemony, while granting "democracy" to Iraq, when 65% of the Population WANTS to institute Shi'ite Hegemony, and alliance with Tehran?

• At this point, I'd be happy if the One Million Iraqi Christians are not slaughtered or subjugated over the next Ten Years... but they probably will be.

That's Realism.

sad but true. OP

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

Bonus Question:

How do you institute Constitutional, Secular Democracy amongst a Majority-Shi'ite Population where the highest form of religious expression is beating your own head, and that of your three-year-old toddler, with a blunt machete?

1,000 Points for the Answer. (HINT: There is No Answer.)

You were saying something about "Optimism"?