Sen. Rockefeller: Iraq Democracy is "Pipe Dream" and Not Desirable; They Can't Handle It

Sunday News-Register (Wheeling, WV) | April 13, 2003 | Justin Anderson

[mountaineer]

As leaders from nations around the globe begin to ponder the type of government post-war Iraq will enjoy, in an interview with the Sunday News-Register, U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., expressed hesitation regarding the possibility of a viable form of a democratic political structure in postwar Iraq.

"The idea of democracy in Iraq is a pipe dream," he said. "Iraq has never been a democracy. One of America's problems is that we are focusing on Saddam and not what is the country of Iraq. We tend to focus on individuals."

To Rockefeller and others in the federal government, the goal of stabilization and normalization is more achievable and far more urgent to the welfare of the Iraqi people. Following regime change, the office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance will be responsible in the initial phases for helping Iraqis restore the delivery of essential services like water, basic medical care and electricity.

If a democracy succeeded in Iraq, it would be a 20-30 year process, Rockefeller said. "(Democracy) is not desirable at this point. The (Iraqi) people are not ready for a democracy."

It will be difficult to win the trust of the Iraqi people after the war. By and large, civilian Iraqis live a tribal existence, Rockefeller said. A mistrust, at least on the parts of the Shiite Muslims in the south of the country, began to flourish during the first Gulf War.

"The Shiites are very slow to respond," Rockefeller said. "(President George H.W.) Bush encouraged them to rebel against Saddam back in 1991 and we just walked away. They were slaughtered."

The Shiites and other tribal factions of the Iraqi civilian population are living in a "very competitive environment," Rockefeller said.

"Most of them are just trying to eke out an existence of poverty," he said. "That kind of existence doesn't breed well for democratic behavior."

President George W. Bush and Biritish Prime Minister Tony Blair had a 20-hour visit in Belfast, Northern Ireland, last week to discuss the future of an Iraq without Saddam. One of the objectives is the introduction of a democratic state.

"I really don't know how much (Bush) knows about the country," Rockefeller said. "I've read books on it and otherwise researched it. I think that's pretty much what youhave to do to begin to understand a culture. It's not just a question of where your tanks go."

[lelio]

While the previous posts comparing this to Dixiecrats and their beliefs that "nigrahs" couldn't handle voting, Rockerfeller (gasp!) could have a point. We can't just shove a democracy at them and expect it to work as the same old warlords will pop up. When you're starving you'll "vote" for the person that's going to feed you.
And the only way to stop this will be for the US to take an active role in the building of the new Iraq, and to not leave this up to the UN. Course that's opposite of what Jay and his ilk think.

[Captain Kirk]

Japan had a democratic tradition prior to the 1930s, albeit an imperfect one. Iraq has no comparative democratic tradition. Conservatives have been become hopeless Wilsonian utopians. BTW, how is democracy doing these days in Afghanistan, Kosovo, and Haiti?

[lelio]

Doh, meant to say that the previous posts comparing Jay to previous democrats (LBJ, Dick Russell, etc) hit the nail right on the head. Scratch a democrat, find some racist beliefs.

[Happy2BMe]

Jay Rockefeller: "I am a Democrat. The Republicans initiated Operation Iraqi Freedom. Therefore, it is completely illigitimate, won't work, is bogus, and should be ripped to shreds and thrown in the fire. We aren't getting any credit for any of this - notta! And Hollywood is not either, blah blah blah..."

[Captain Kirk]

You and Al Sharpton have a lot in common. Apparently, anytime you both disagree with anyone you use the "R" word. There are good reason to believe that democracy can not take hold in a land of blood feuds, ethnic hatreds, and medieval attitudes toward religion. Conservatives used to be realists, now they have become hopeless utopian Wilsonians.

[mountaineer]

What would you recommend as an alternative to democracy in post-war Iraq?

[Captain Kirk]

Nation building eh? I guess when Clinton did in Kosovo and Haiti it was bad but now that a Republican does it is is to be praised.

[lawdude]

""The idea of democracy in Iraq is a pipe dream," he said. "Iraq has never been a democracy. One of America's problems is that we are focusing on Saddam and not what is the country of Iraq. We tend to focus on individuals.""

Arrogant, elitist co**su**er.

[Captain Kirk]

My alternative? Allow the Iraqis to set up an interim coalition government as soon as possible and, once Saddam's forces are defeated, turn over authority to it. It may fail or it may succeed but that should be an Iraqi affair. BTW, I thought that this war was supposed to be about WMD and Al Quada links not "nation building."

[Ol' Sparky]

What would Rockerfeller prefer? An interim socialist state?

Those people just can't handle freedom...

[mountaineer]

Qatar ruler pushing nation toward democracy
Wednesday, April 09, 2003
By Jack Kelly, Post-Gazette National Security Writer


DOHA, Qatar -- His Royal Highness Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, ruler of Qatar, seems to be one of those rarities in world history: a genuinely benevolent despot.

Qatar consists, essentially, of the capital city of Doha and some oil wells in the desert. Doha is an attractive city, with broad avenues lined with palm trees, attractive homes and apartment complexes in pastel colors, modern office buildings and a huge indoor shopping center.

Half the Qatari men and nearly all the Qatari women wear traditional dress in public, but they are relaxed about having Westerners in their midst. Street signs, and signs in all public buildings, are rendered in both English and Arabic.

Sheikh al-Thani is an aggressive modernizer. He has established a university complex in northwest Doha and has invited a number of U.S. universities, including Carnegie Mellon, to establish campuses there. He hopes to make Qatar an education center for Arabs throughout the Persian Gulf region.

Though the emir opposes the war in Iraq, he allowed the U.S. military to establish its regional headquarters here after Saudi Arabia denied permission for the United States to use U.S. bases in that country to attack Iraq.

Sheikh al-Thani is a hereditary and absolute ruler, like most Arab monarchs, but he keeps pushing his country toward democracy.

On Monday, there was an election for the Municipal Council in Doha, the second in Qatari history. One of the victorious candidates was a woman, Sheikha Yousef Hassan al-Jufairi. This would happen in neighboring Saudi Arabia about the time the first outdoor ice-skating rink would open in Riyadh.

Last year nearby Bahrain permitted women to run for public office, but none won seats. Women also can vote and seek office in Oman.

The municipal elections are paving the way for the creation of a national parliament. A draft constitution has been submitted to the emir, but has yet to be approved. The parliament envisioned would have 45 members, of whom 30 would be elected and 15 would be appointed by Sheikh al-Thani. (Absolute monarchs who voluntarily become constitutional monarchs are entitled to some concessions.)

There were few surprises in the municipal elections, but there was a hopeful sign. A member of the royal family, a Cabinet minister, Sheikh Falah bin Jassem al-Thani, waited patiently in line at a polling place to cast his vote.

Sheikh al-Thani has been pushing moderation and tolerance in other ways, too. Monday night was the opening of a three-day Muslim-Christian seminar at the Ritz-Carlton, sponsored by the emir.

In remarks opening the conference, Sheikh al-Thani proposed to create in Qatar a permanent body for dialogue between Islam and Christianity to promote tolerance between the religions and between Arab and Western cultures.

President Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair hope to create a model Arab democracy in post-war Iraq. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani may beat them to it.
http://www.post-gazette.com/World/20030409qatar0409p8.asp

[Captain Kirk]

Thank you, Al Sharpton. Er...um did you applaud about Clinton when he tried to bring democracy to Haiti and Kosovo? Or...were you a "racist" then?

[NonValueAdded]

"... I've read books ...", nah, sounds more like he's reading McAuliffRAT talking points memos. What a jerk.

What must really chap his posterior is that we're not really proposing a Democracy for Iraq but rather a Federal Republic. You know, the kind of governmental structure that gives little states a much bigger voice than they would receive in a true Democracy.

[mountaineer]

I thought that this war was supposed to be about WMD and Al Quada links

It was about a lot of things, including those two things, as well as Iraq's violation of the 1991 peace accord and the liberation of the Iraqi people from a genocidal despot's reign. I believe the U.S. wants post-war Iraq to have a government chosen by free people.

[Amerigomag]

Better?

Yes, in one large respect. Race is not a factor over which an individual has any control but an individual does have control over their values.

Discrimination based on race is indefensible. Discrimination based on values is both healthy and desirable. Value discrimination is the basis of the rule of law.

[Captain Kirk]

Since you have embraced the Wilsonian dream, why don't you support application of this dream in Afghanistan (which is now governed by petty warlords and drug lords), Kosovo, which is now a have for organized crime, and Haiti (which is now ruled by a dictator who we put in power). What do all these countries have in common? Hmmm.....

[Darnright]

>Rockefeller said. "(Democracy) is not desirable at this point. The (Iraqi) people are not ready for a democracy." Technically, I agree with Jay. I don't think a democracy is a good form of government, at all. I would prefer to see the Iraqis have a far better form of government, a REPRESENTATIVE REPUBLIC

[F.J. Mitchell]

The truth is, that Democrats do not believe in Democracy (Representative Republic.) any where on earth, even here in the USA. Socialist dictatorships are more to their liking.

[Timmy]

Liberals always believe tyranny is OK for those "less enlightened" peoples.