In fact, can a peaceful democracy or republic exist in any islamic area where violent hardliners wreak havoc as a means of pushing their agenda.
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A very good question. One that Washington seems to be blind to. It really distills down to "do all the people really want it?" Will they support a single Constitutional government that takes precedent over a religion running a country fostered by a bunch of warring mullahs? Frankly, based on our history there, I doubt it.
It is time that Washington draws the line. The Iraqis MUST stand on their own two feet. Eighteen months is not going to make much difference. We did all the heavy lifting for the Iraqis -- if they want a modern, Constitutional government, then let them stand for it now.
It's less important that they have a constitutional democracy than that the country not become a training camp for terrorists.
I wish we would put our own national interests ahead of somebody elses for a change.
And not apologize about it.
On the other hand, if we leave Iraq unstable, it (and its oil) will fall to Iran.
Thorny problem. As long as the problem of islam is not addressed directly, the entire western world is damned if it tries to defend itself and even more damned if it doesn't.
The time for clear definition of the enemy is upon us and, with that definition, a clear strategy must be developed for confronting the problem of fundamental islam everywhere. Until fundamental islam is expunged from the world, it will, like cancer, regrow and threaten the world again. Next time, however, WMD's will be even more lethal and horrible.