they were not ready for democracy, that's the sad conclusion. mind you, this doesn't mean they are not CAPABLE of democracy - they simply were not ready for it, were not ready to build the institutions required to sustain it. anyone can vote and dip their finger in an inkwell, that's not democracy.
Hmmmm....seems I remember realists saying that over three years ago....yep it was the realists. Because it sure as hell wasn't the flagwaving hoo-rah party faithful. Contrary to Woodrow Wilson, Bush, the PNAC, and Republicans, democracy can not be spread in such a fashion. It comes through trade and the free exchange of ideas. Look at parts of Southeast Asia. Through capitalistic ventures, even Vietnam is coming about in ways. Not by long ago domino effect wars but by trade.
Of course, 'conservatives' won't learn. They'll try the same nonsense in another nation in the next generation. And the same result will be achieved. Thankfully however, this fiasco should be about over. Rantings about Iran or Syria are just that. Rantings. Nothing will be done but talks. Unfortunately destabilization of Iraq, for whatever the lame excuse was, and the establishment of the purple finger regime will bring about closer ties with Iraq and Iran. Not sure I see a Persian superstate in the Middle East but they will be closer....On the brightside the Iraq/Iran war is completely over. On the not so brightside it appears it brought two former enemies together
Don't count the Iraqis out yet.
Iraq has a democracy. It is just a very violent one.