[mountaineer]

when it comes it will have to be through a slow process (a la Qater) and will have to be made by the people directly concerned

I think I've said or at least implied that, and I'm puzzled as to why you're continuing to attempt to argue with me about things I haven't said. Go back to the top of this thread. I posted it because a U.S. senator said democracy is a pipedream and it's not desirable, which I considered a curious position for a U.S. senator to take.

[Captain Kirk]

Well...if he said desirable he is wrong. It is probably a pipedream, at least for the foreseable future. In any case, it is matter for the Iraqis to decide, not us.

[wardaddy]

There are nations and their respective cultures where "democracy" is unattainable at the moment. Recognizing that makes no one a racist or a culture snob by default. It's simply the truth.

Representational governance works best in educated societies with working economies, a strong middle class and a culture disposed to reasonable compromise and pragmatism and a nice eye for personal freedoms.

Iraq has the first two more or less better than most candidates...so we shall see. I think Iraq has some scant experience in "democracy" from the post WWII years does it not?