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Haiti, Kosovo, and Afghanistan are precisely the issues. If the U.S. failed to build nations there, why do you think it will succeed here? After all, you seem to be calling for significant investments of American blood and treasure to accomplish this goal or are you? I do not reject the possibility of democracy in the Arab world but 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 otherwise it will not take.

Germany and Japan, of course, were different cases. Both had democratic traditions (Germany prior to 1933) and Japan (prior to the late 1920s). Both had market economies and relatively cosmpolitan populations. They would have embraced democracy in the late 1940s on their own.

BTW, I do not reject the possibilities of an interim government in Iraq embracing democracy. I just don't think it is our affair. Our actions (which in theory were not based on Wilsonianism) have given them a shot. Now...it is up to them.

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.