[Dean's World] Dave Price: Forsaking Freedom?

[notify at powerblogs.com]

Posted by Dave Price:
Forsaking Freedom?
http://www.deanesmay.com/posts/1160679062.shtml


   Itâs being [1]reported that Bakerâs Iraq report will abandon the idea
   of fostering democracy in Iraq, apparently in favor of âstabilityâ
   which can supposedly be aided by engaging Iran and Syria. Of course,
   we should be cautious about making too many assumptions since the
   report hasnât been released, but the early signs are not encouraging.

     The "Stability First" paper says, "The United States should aim for
     stability particularly in Baghdad and political accommodation in
     Iraq rather than victory."

   This sounds like the paleocon paradigm reborn, which would be immoral,
   cowardly, and most importantly run counter to our own long-term
   interests. âStabilityâ defined as âhundreds of millions living in
   terrible oppression and semi-constant war â but no Americans are
   involvedâ is not a formula for a Mideast that no longer produces
   radical jihadists by the planeful.
   The report writers seem to think we can get cooperation from Iraqâs
   hostile neighbors, which is just not sensible in any situation under
   which Iraq has a responsible government. The conflict between Iraqi
   freedom, Syrian autocracy, and Iranâs thinly veiled theocracy with
   clerically-rigged elections is irreducible: the legitimacy of
   nondemocracies is inevitably corroded by free states with consensual
   governance and independent media on their borders -- their very
   presence amounts to an act of war. This is the primary reason Israelâs
   existence is so unacceptable to the Arab and Persian regimes as to
   require decades of war and war-by-proxy, whatever other excuses they
   make -- and Iraq is a much greater threat because it is largely Arab
   and canât be demonized as âJewish stateâ (never mind the irony that
   Arab Israelis are some of the only Arabs in the region who can freely
   vote). But Israel survives and mostly thrives despite the violence,
   and so will Iraq.
   Democracy is also probably the only way to keep Iraq together. Iraq is
   a country with three distinct ethnicities, one of whom formerly ruled
   the country with brutality and constant warfare, and a significant
   portion of which believes strongly they should be allowed to do so
   again. There were major civil wars in each of the past two decades
   over that issue, conflicts dwarfing the current violence. Iraq can
   only be held together two ways: massive violence or a system that
   gives representation to all sects.
   Last but not least, abandoning the commitment to democracy in Iraq is
   a grievous insult to the millions of Iraqis who risked their lives to
   vote three times in 2005. Such an abdication would be the worst
   betrayal of our ideals imaginable, and would not soon be forgotten by
   potential enemies and allies. Hopefully, Baker and company can do
   better than that.

References

   1. http://www.nysun.com/article/41371