Amid the atmosphere of violence intmidation, low voter registration and sneaking feeling that the vote will be rigged anyway can Iraqi elections in the next few days work?

Can you impose freedom and democracy upon a country that you have invaded?

Can Iraq really function as a democracy when they have had years of dictatorship and the fact that most muslim countries dont function as democracies anyway?

Is America really spreading freedom throughout the world or was it just an attempt to invade a region rich in oil?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/4201561.stm

Of course Iraq can function as a Democracy. Iraqis are people, the same as all people. They deserve to live their lives freely, without a disrespect for their basic rights.

The important question is not about Iraq and Democracy. The important question is why so few people of the so-called Left are able to separate their hatred for George Bush with the Iraq elections.

It was series of questions not statements.

Who said it wasn't?

*lol*

Yeah, sure! They were only questions.

I was just saying that the response seemed to suggest that I had made a series of statements and really I was just trying to provoke some debate.

I think the elections seemed to go well as for the long term stability and security of Iraq we shall have to see.

Iraq certainly won't be a success if people aren't committed to it.

But, no doubt, you'll be claiming to have supported Iraqi Democracy from the start......


If it succeeds.

What the hell are you talking about?
Your contribution (I use the term lightly) to this thread has been utter bollocks. Well done.

Sign up Guest you have clearly more Intelligence than me that its suprising that you wish to remain anonomous lol

I am just questioning the way in which the US has handled the whole invasion and subsequent attempts to restore stability to the country, Its a point . Yes I have doubts that it will work personally. So no I wont claim That I have supported Iraqi democracy from the start if its a success but I will be happy if it is( With this American administation in charge I just have my doubts.)

People should be able to live their lives freely, without violation of their basic rights.

Bush deserves more respect than many people give him. Not for his intelligence, nor for his command of the U.S Government. But, I think he does deserve respect for his determination to support the expansion of Democracy and freedom.

As such, I think it's a shame that so many people are determined to down-play the success of the Iraqi elections. It seems difficult for many people to overcome their Political hatred for Bush, with any support they might have for the expansion of Democracy.

Which, isn't really a surprise. People, by and large, are stupid.

But achieving freedom surely isnt about killing people to get it?

Surely you can see that any successes that Bush has in the democratic arena in Iraq are pretty outweighed by th eloss of innocent life and the damage that the war caused to the Iraqi infastructure.
Sure I give credit to Bush for pushing through democracy but surely it was just an afterthought surely his prime motivations for the war were totally different?

I think your use of the word expansion is very interesting.

I don't think anyone was denying that the elections in Iraq are a good thing, step forward, all that. There is undoubtedly a quest for Iraqi stability and order, but freedom and democracy are debatable. what good is democracy if it's imposed by imperialist countries? Bush's 'determination' is definitely not purely about the successful functioning of a sovereign Iraq.
You are right that people are bent on putting Bush down, but in politics nothing is clear cut, and I think it would be wrong to see this as just an altruistic move on the USA's part.

We are in agreement, then. The elections were good.

There are many legitimate criticisms that can be made about how Bush has conducted the Iraq War. All of these are relevant, in the same way that the many criticisms of European Government conduct during the War are legitimate.

That, though, is not the topic we are debating. We are discussing the elections.

What the f*ck would you prefer, then? The reduction of Democracy?

As for the decisions behind the War, there are clearly many things Bush has done wrong. I'd happily agree with many of those criticisms.