Baby Needs a New Democracy

Hey, maybe civil war isn't the only future for Iraq after all.

"BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Leaders of the mostly Shiite Muslim ticket said Monday they have no intention of establishing an Iranian-style Islamic state in Iraq if they sweep next weekend's national elections.

They also vowed not to be dragged into a civil war by retaliating against Sunni extremist attacks on the Shiite community."

Since before Iraq War everyone from the Middle East experts to my very own dad claimed that once the US moved out of post election Iraq, the Shiite's and the Sunni's would immediately enter into a civil war. It wasn't an unreasonable proclamation given the volatile history of the region but it did lack in any kind of faith that people other than Europeans could handle democratization. Actually, it kind of struck me as condescending.

When I look at Iraq I do not see Iran. I see a country that despite its Shiite majority has some understanding for the need to separate Mosque from State. If Saddam can be thanked for anything it would be for secularizing the Iraqi people. If you watch the documentary, "Voices of Iraq" what you don't see is veiled women and cloaked men calling for "death to America!" You see men, women and children whom are no different than Americans or Europeans having a country conversation. Sure, some would like nothing better than to have an Iranian-style Islamic state but then, Jerry Falwell would like nothing more than to be anointed High Priest of Jesusland. Every country has its nuts after all.

It would appear that most Iraqi's, both Shiite and Sunni are simply tired of war in general. It's the same kind of tired that plagued Western Europe after two world wars. Let's look at the short history of Iraq; a protracted and devastating war against Iran that decimated both countries armies and population; another war in Kuwait that resulted in worldwide response that further eroded the country; more than a decade of sanctions and finally the US/Coalition of the Willing invasion and subsequent occupation. Call me crazy but I think they're done with war for the time being.

Every country has members of its population that will not listen to reason and will always go to violence. It's not like the US doesn't have organized crime or gang members. One also has to remember that many of the "insurgents" aren't Iraqi's at all but rather jihadists or mercenaries sponsored by Iran from a whole host of Middle Eastern countries.

We've rolled the dice in Iraq and call me naive but I think in the long run we may have picked a winner. The above article would certainly seem to indicate so.