[demkicker]

Well, if any nation can be used as a model of Democracy growing from the barrel of a gun, Germany is the poster child.

Well said! And that is why their lack of support has been so inexplicable.

[jwpjr]

re: their lack of support has been so inexplicable

I have come to the conclusion that one generation simply cannot learn from the experiences of the previous generation, just a children have always been driven to make the same mistakes their parents made as kids. Look at the spending patterns of those who were young adults and on their own during the depression. Their children (like my Mom) experienced it, but not as the person responsible for providing for the family. The adults had their understanding of everyday life changed forever. My Mom did not live the same way. She had some understanding of the problems faced by her parents, but did not live the rest of her life as though the depression was just a paycheck away. Consider the kids of baby boomers. They decided all sorts of social rules were not really necessary. They rebelled against things as simple as dress codes for elementary school children to as complicated as the stigma of unwed birth. Todays' Germans have never lived under the repression or experienced the horror of war and really don't appreciate the freedoms they enjoy. I think once the Iraqis get a taste of self governing they will become devout supporters of the concept.

[MHalblaub]

One election doesn't make out of a country a real democracy. But it is the first step.

There was a democratic system in Germany before the WW2. Hitler's first step to power was through an election.

If you think that worked with Germany then the US have to stay a little bit longer than just 18 months more in Iraq.