I agree with that. Further more, I believe that this has to happen.

Even the though the DoD would love to have semi-permanent bases in Iraq, I believe that we should not persue this because it will create a perception that will validate many conspiracy theories in that region. I believe that we'll just have to content with our mega-base in Qatar.

Think the party that has run everything from 1979 until now. It wasn't just in the 80's.

But yes, I have no doubt that many people will want a religious government on par with Iran. I have no doubt that Iran is heavily supporting Shiites in Iraq. However, nobody seems to get that no matter the religion and no matter the fact that they are Shiite, Iranians are not Arabs.

Anyway, the voting took place today. Maybe in 5 years the Democracy will be more stable. And maybe in 30 years the population will have enough of a decent education to reject certain leaders.

-Rudey
--It's a mix of good and bad...nothing more.

I hope nobody think that this is it. This is far from it. This is step number one in over one hundred steps.

Like I've said, Iraq is, at best, 5 years from being a true democracy. This is a positive first step. However, this is not the end. Anybody that think that it's over is foolish. The hard work no begin.

I think a lot of people think Rome was built in a day. Really, how long did it take for true Democracy to come to America even? How did the blood shed from the French Revolution shape their government of today, ya know?

-Rudey

You'll be suprise how many people think that the job is done.

Why not? Everyone decided to forget about Afghanistan, so maybe this will turn into the same thing.

Samir Hassan, 32, who lost his leg in a car bomb blast last year, said as he waited to vote in Baghdad: "I would have crawled here if I had to. I don't want terrorists to kill other Iraqis like they tried to kill me."


This is my favorite quote about the election. It's just one person voting. We know nothing about him except that he was determined to vote.

I think we all forget these are real people on the ground. Every day they have bombs explode and live through threats, and here they are...so determined to vote.

-Rudey

Yea, and did you read his comments in all his posts besides this thread? I love it when people that don't take their own advice....:cool:

Its not that "this is it," but neither will there be "over one hundred steps," unless you're counting every minor step taken. I see this as having the same potential as the fall of the Berlin Wall. The nations that were freed are still not fully established democratically or economically, but no one would dispute that what happened almost 16 years was a major change on the world stage.

I believe that Arabs in other nations are watching today's events. They will also watch the struggles that Iraq will face in coming months and years, and they will say "my nation also deserves democracy."

The European Renaisance will finally coming home to Arabia.

I've read his posts before...and he wasn't being snarky in that one. We aren't talking about every thread ever made in this one, are we? I take my own advice thanks.:rolleyes:

The WMD drop-in (non sequitur?) wasn't snarky?

Regardless - this is not the end, but it certainly could be the beginning. Arya, you're completely right, but the next steps can't come until this first one. It's impressive.

Nope sorry not happening.

You don't think Arabs want democracy?

True - and hopefully there aren't people that think of this as an end to all of the work. There's still much to do, but this is a great first step.

You might want to back up your flippant statement.

It is happening.

Its in the news. You can read about in the finest newspapers, like the New York Times. You can read about it on well respected foreign web sites like the BBC's.

Best of all, you can read about on Al Jazeera's web site, and the presence of such stories says more than the articles do.

What really surprised me is a poll on Al Jazeera's web site. These polls, while unscientific, usually reflect an outlook that is completely opposed to that of the Bush Administration's. This one asks, "Do you trust the outcome of Iraq’s elections, being held amidst the ongoing violence?" 62% have responded, "yes."

Here are some articles from today's Al Jazeera:

Iraqis await elections results in anticipation

What do the Iraqi elections hold for Syria?

Mubarak hints at 5th term, rejects calls for open vote

Arabs are watching and reading. They will soon start demanding democracy through out the Middle East. Yesterday's Iraqi elections will be to the Middle East what the Fall of the Berlin Wall was to Eastern Europe.