[N. Beaujon]

Some places simply CAN'T be democratized (the Arab World, Sub saharan Africa come to mind); their cultures won't allow it, for all they understand and respect is rule by a strong man, a chieftain.... Trying to teach democracy to an Arab or an African is like trying to teach a rooster to sing like a canary.

Your absolutely right in many respects, buzznut, but here's hoping Iraq is not one of those places. Don't forget the Arab world at least, at one point in time, was considered very cultured and civilized. Former English colonies typically have the best chance of making the transition to some sort of democracy (India, for example.) Next, where the citizens have been allowed to be educated abroad. A lot of Arabs have been educated in the US. Whether reason and free markets can prevail and overthrow the ignorant Islamo-fascists remains to be seen.