Rice, Straw pay surprise visit to Baghdad

[Geldain]

gnjsdad:

I do not believe “the job” **can **be done.

Fortunately, for the Iraqi people and our troops. The job is being done.

I would be happy to have an Iraq prosperous and at peace with its neighbors.

Good for you!

Democracy, IMO, is incidental to that outcome.

Will you elaborate, please. Because as I read that, I get the feeling you wouldn’t care if Saddam or some other tyrant was running Iraq as long as they were peaceful with their neighbors

The attempt to force Western-style democracy is proviong a hindrance to that goal, IMO.

From where I sit, no western style democracy is being forced on anyone in Iraq. Had the populace been *forced *to vote, and/or candidates been forced to run for office against their will your force argument would have some validity to it.

 

[Ani_Ibi]

Ani Ibi:

I suspect you might be happy to hear that the American troops are being called home.

gnjsdad:

Yes, I would. Would you?

Yes, conditional on having completed their mission.
Ani Ibi:

But I do not believe that you would be happy to hear that the job’s done.

gnjsdad:

I do not believe “the job” **can **be done.

That is begging the question, isn’t it? I asked you if you would be happy to hear that the job’s done. Please answer that question.
Please also state your reasons for not believing that the job can be done. (No need for the quote marks around job. The troops have a job. I am not misusing the term job.)
Ani Ibi:

So let’s ask the question: will you be happy to hear that Iraq is a functioning, prosperous democracy? Yes or no, please.

gnjsdad:

I would be happy to have an Iraq prosperous and at peace with its neighbors.

Did Saddam lead Iraq into prosperity and peace?

gnjsdad:

Democracy, IMO, is incidental to that outcome.

Please state why replacing one tyranny with another tyranny would remedy the lack of prosperity and peace under Saddam.

gnjsdad:

The attempt to force Western-style democracy is proviong a hindrance to that goal, IMO.

Democracy is not being forced on Iraq. The Iraqis themselves have chosen democracy. Please define Western-style democracy and compare it to the democracy created in Iraq.
Please also state your reasons for claiming that democracy

1. can be forced on anyone;
2. has been forced on Iraq.