[JSteff]

"Set up a democratic Iraq that would be stable, a good neighbor, act as an example of what Arabs can do in a good way if they are given the chance."

However, if they base it on Islamic law it WILL fail. Turkey has done a better job of it than any other muslim country and only because they have been relatively secular.

Anywhere there is muslim rule there is instability. If they adopt a muslim based constitution all our efforts were for naught.

It will soon revert to what we wanted out of there. Iran is the example of a islamic theocracy... we and the world don't need that.

I think they need more "guidence". Sadly, IMO we are however getting to the point of just rolling the dice and take what comes up.

Damn France and Jimmy Carter, the Shah was the best thing going for the M.E.

[Marine_Uncle]

" Damn France and Jimmy Carter, the Shah was the best thing going for the M.E."

Yes. I agree on the point about an Islamic theocracy, but a theocracy does not allow for a real democratic process, Iran has been rigged since the Shia got the boot, the Mullahs run the country.
That will not happen in Iraq. Sistani and many Immans on the Sunni side and obvious to us the Kurds simply say a theocracy is not what they desire. All they have to do is look around and see what harm it has done elsewhere. I think we have to be very carefull here, in how we all are interpreting what is coming to light. A theocracy will require one main Islamic sect to be in total control. Becuase as we are quite aware, there are so many vary well defined and sometime totally oppositional aspects to the two main sects in Iraq. They never could rule as one. It is not possible based on every other Muslim country we can observe.
And if the majority rules, then the Shiite's under Sistani are in. And he continues and historically can be shown he never has favored a theocracy. This is just one example where we must realize there is a vast difference in how Iran and Iraq view theocracies. Iraq is on the record saying it will not allow that to happen.
So in that respect if what I say is true. Perhaps some of us are, with all justifications, a bit weary without examining the situation. Another thing. We must always remember the Sunni are the traditionalist. Right? They believe their ultimate leader whatever you want to call him, must come from Ali. Polarly opposite are the Shiite. They believe anyone can become the top dog. Also the Sunni and Shiite interprete many laws a bit differently, depending how their clergy interprete things in the Hadith and other books that define their system of law. Then we have the Kurds. And they are not to far behind the Sunni in population. They are as you probably aware rather modest in their Islamic beliefs. So the end result is I find it a bit hard to see how a real Islamic theocracy could be set up that would prove satisfactory for all Iraq. Perhaps I am of based, but that are some of my thoughts on the theocracy issue.