Posted on 03/22/2007 8:49:30 AM PDT by tang0r
The only viable solution in the opinion of this organization is to install in Iraq a moderate Muslim potentate who can effectively limit, with a strong centralized force (and perhaps decentralized provincial decision-making), sectarian conflict and radical fundamentalism. This example is given by the more "moderate" Islamic states, including Turkey, Egypt, and Kuwait, who subdue terrorists while piously imposing sharia-inspired law and order.
America should concede Iraq a theocratic governmental structure that substantially limits democracy. This is the best option to preserve stability and facilitate quick withdrawal. The Iraqi constitution should provide as much provincial/ethnic independence as necessary to avert full-scale civil war, and the military should continue to be trained as much as necessary to keep the government in power. All aid should be given to this fledgling nation contingent upon the continuing prosecution of Islamic extremists.
(Excerpt) Read more at prometheusinstitute.net ...
A mini-caliphate in Iraq: yeah, that sounds like a grand idea...
Ah, the CIA-State Department foreign policy of the Cold War. Who cares if he's a dictator just as long as he's nice to us? We already went down that path with a guy named Faisal. There was also somebody called "Shah" whom we propped up. That worked out real well too.
Ummmm, Iraq is a sovereign country.
Iraq needs an Ataturk.
Iraq needs an Ataturk.
Unfortunately, no person of that sort appears to exist in Iraq...not to mention the fact that today's Turkey is well-advanced on the road to rolling back the secularizations instituted by Ataturk and his successors.
Iraq like the American colonies?
Its true that most Amercians have absolutely no appreciation for the luck and blessed circumstances and history that gave us the American Republic. Americans, mostly of English stock, drew on more than 500 years of English constitutional and common law and due process rights designed to limit the power of the state going back to the Magna Carta...those republican, classically liberal theories and principles themselves based on Roman and Greek political philosophy going back more than a thousand years. In connection with this history and Western/English political/legal principles, we were blessed to have a rare collection of great and talented men leading America at one time
If you believe thatr Iraq or any country in the Middle East will ever look anything like America...you need to go back and study and appreciate your country's unique history and gifts
Or a Saddam...oh no...wait a minute
Prometheus gave fire to humanity. The Prometheus Institute apparently exists as a warning to other, that fire in the wrong hands is a bad thing.
I'm OK with this solution. Sounds better than a democracy, which has been described as "Two Wolves and a Sheep Deciding What's for Dinner."
Democracies only work until voters figure out that the real purpose of government is to try to live at the expense of someone else, and the real purpose of politics is to elect people who will accomplish this mission on your behalf.
They will be better off under a theocracy, in my opinion. It's time we stop blabbering about the moral superiority of democracy -- people voting only slows down the power of the state over the individual. It doesn't stop it.
I don't want Turkey, Egypt, or Kuwait. It's not good enough.
split it up between the tribes as it was prior to WW1, then let them slam away at each other as they were prior to WW1.
As long as they are killing each other they are too busy to kill anyone else.
A likely scenario, and a good reason, to pull out of Iraq
The "democracy" part of the equation was nothing more than a silly, delusional, Wilsonian attempt to put an idealistic face on what has become a sh!tty, futile nation-building exercise anyway -- so there's nothing wrong with tearing that government structure down and putting something else up in its place.
Good point. I do agree with this statement:
"Fundamentalist Islam has no capacity to adopt any effective form of democratic government, period, and in no situation should this acidic ideology be encouraged to gain power. Not even the most elementary assumptions of the nature of man nor theories of effective government can reconciled with the new breed of uncompromising Islam."
split it up between the tribes as it was prior to WW1, then let them slam away at each other as they were prior to WW1.
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hopelessly naive solution. What was workable as the 19th century became the 20th is useless in the 21st. While the tribes "slam away at each other", who do you think is going to be taking advantage of that. It won't be the good guys.
Other than all out total war against every islamic country in the middle east (which I whole heartedly support).
What's your solution?
Saw your name here and was wondering if you currently live in Georgia.
I'm going home to Savannah, leaving Montana in June or July and would like to meet some of the folks from there that frequent FR.
Thanks in advance
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