Shoutbox

quote:

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Originally posted by absorbation
Democracy may seem great, but it doesn't work everywhere (i.e. where religion heavily influences norms and values)

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I'm not sure that I agree with that. It may be true that if religion significantly influences people's views that laws should remain static because they are given by a higher power and are thus not open to debate. However, very few religions give clear advice over every single issue imaginable, especially in regard to new issues that arise due to new technology (eg. genetic engineering). Thus, some sort of decision making process needs to be in place to make rules regarding technology, and democracy is often an effective way to do that in large population states. Also, in Poland, the democratic reforms of the late 1980s and early 1990s were largely directed by the Polish Solidarity Campaign which was endorsed by the Roman Catholic Church, so democracy and religion can be entirely compatible. In fact, I would say the reason democracy isn't really working in Iraq is because it has been imposed rapidly instead of gradually. Westernised Mass Democracy is something that evolved over a long period of time, after the Saddam regime, Iraq can hardly be expected to transform itself into a democracy overnight.

Iraq's government is clearly not able to do a lot of effective governing. I personally do not buy the views of those who claim that Iraq is now able to police itself, and that its own army can keep order. However, I also believe the presence of coalition forces is encouraging violence, but not causing the presence, and attacks, carried out by insurgents. I can see the situation in Iraq calming down (slightly) if the U.S. troops pulled out, but then, shortly after, we'll see a campaign launched against the weak Iraqi government, which may, or may not, be effective.

Pulling out of Iraq will be a gamble. It could stop violence, or it could simply allow it to go on unchallenged. The truth is no one knows for certain. The two extremes of 'pull out as quickly as possible' and 'stay there for the long term' seem, on the whole, to be unworkable solutions. What needs to be drawn up is a flexible, region by region withdrawal that can be extended, or reversed if needs dictate, on the basis of insurgent activity. That would also give time for the Iraqi government to stabilise and for its army to train and strengthen. In turn, a small, but long term, UN presence could be maintained in Iraq to help the government and army.