Lessons Missed in Iraq—Why George Bush cannot win the war! (good read)

[Blue_Roses]

Recent missteps by the Bush Administration in Iraq and the Middle East have underlined the truth of the old adage, “Those who ignore the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them.” After six years, several realities make us cognizant of the fact that those in charge at the U. S. State Department are out of touch, not only with historical facts, but with present realities.

The Administration’s first mistake is to assume that American style democracy is best and indeed wanted, by every nation in the world. His Texas style diplomacy has made America the enemy of choice by terrorists and regular citizens alike. While freedom is a right and luxury that should be enjoyed by all, American democracy is unique and in order for it to function elsewhere, the same set of prevailing conditions must be present.

The arrogance that we know what is best for everyone else does not play well to most of the world’s population. The reality is that democracy must find fertile ground in which to germinate and grow. While the American colonies of the 1700s were new in the sense of their creation, they were ancient in terms of thought and philosophy. They enjoyed a society in which the Reformation had thrown off the yoke of religious repression of the Dark Ages. The Enlightenment had opened the door to new thinking and the freedom of expression. The soil of democracy had been cleared and tilled by at least two centuries of thinking about government. England had gone through the Glorious Revolution and come to terms with leadership, government, individual rights and a constitution. While not perfect, the evolution of thinking on the subject was advancing and openness to new ideas was expanding...

-snip-

Another problem with what the United States did in Iraq is that we removed not only most of the physical infrastructure, but we also swept away most of the cultural and established institutions, resulting in chaos. Burke in his writings on the French Revolution makes the point that this kind of change cannot produce order. A foundation upon which to build a society must have a cultural base and match the mindset of the people. Trying to establish a U. S. style democracy in Iraq will fail because that base has been destroyed and because the people are not to the point in their thinking to understand or even want democracy.

more...


http://www.usavoice.org/NEWS/Article.cfm?ID=1884&CID=17&T=Lessons%20Missed%20in%20Iraq—Why%20George%20Bush%20cannot%20win%20the%20war


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:applause:

[wtmusic]

1. Still misses the point

We had no right to invade, any more than another nation would have to invade us and try to change our form of government.

Why make it more complicated than it is?

[Blue_Roses]

2. I think it makes the point

and then some. Invading a sovereign country is absolutely wrong and that's been a GIVEN, but with all the "we are going to win" crap being spewed from this administration, I think this article makes clear that bullshit looms and goes straight to the jugular--in a polite way.;)

[Disturbed]

3. "Democrasies don't war." GWB

This how dense this guy is. America must spread "Freedom" is the meme. If Iraq and Afghanistan actually ever become real democracies, not merely colonies of the US/UK would these countries allow US/UK Multi-Corps to take over their realestate?