Independent Progressive Thought

There is this idiotic notion that you can teach democracy at the point of a gun. Democracy is a very complex system of government which only works when you have an active and educated population and have had certain systems in place for a number of years. So this idea that the Americans are going to arrive and democratize Iraq is only believed by the people inflicting democracy on Iraq. By their very nature, militaries are firm believers in the use of excessive force. It is the very reason for the existence of an imperial military. Even a defensive military, unlike that of the US, only exists for the reason that when all reason has broken down, there will be one final appeal to sheer force to try and resolve issues.

If the American president, who is supposedly educated has the belief that he is doing God's work, does one expect the less educated military (and I speak more of the rank and file soldier than the elite generals) to believe any differently? If you or I said that we were doing God's work and invaded someone's house, it should be rightfully expected that we would be tossed in prison. In Bush Fails History...Jefferson Predicted Iraq by Thom Hartmann, CommonDreams.org, April 21, 2004, Thom Hartman outlines beautifully the reasons why democracy needs a shift in cultural conciousness as well to succeed. A process of engaging Iraqis constructively would have been cheaper, more effective and probably cost less American lives. In the above article, Jefferson's musings are very interesting and have the hallmark of a greatness in that he recognizes what his errors were and is able to articulate them unlike the current president.

posted by Nashib @ 9:33 PM