[governsleastgovernsbest]

Thanks for pointing me to Robin Wright's column in today's Washington Post. Here's a link for others who would like to read it:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A21679-2005Feb13.html

While she goes out of her way to begin the column by quoting those with the most negative view of the election and who foresee a major role for Iran, by the end she has to backpeddle somewhat, quoting Iraqi Shiite leaders to the effect that they don't want to emulate Iran and have chosen a path toward democracy not theocracy. It's also mentioned that experts don't in fact believe that Iraq will become a vassal state of Iran and that Iraq's Arab identity will keep it separate from Iran's Persian one.

[kabar]

I lived in Iran 1977-79, including during the period of the downfall of the Shah and the rise of Khomeini. The mullahs hijacked the Iranian Revolution, which was the product of a broad based coalition including the intelligentsia, the mullahs, students, and the Bazaaries (businessmen). The mullahs are the ones who imposed a theocracy on the country, much to the dismay of most of the country.

Iraq is a much more secular country. It is not Iran. The idea that Iraq would become a vassal state of Iran is nonsense. First, Iraq is an Arab country speaking Arabic, while Iran is Persian speaking Farsi. They have different cultures and history. The Iraqi Sh'ia did not side with Iran during the seven year Iran-Iraq War.

Personally, I think there has been too much made of the religious differences within Iraq. They do not dictate relationships. It has more to do with the Baathists and their desire to continue to run the country along with AQ and foreign Islamo-fascist terrorists who will do anything to prevent a democratic government in Iraq.