Not just the necessary thing but the right thing
Reader comment on item: Let Iraqis run Iraq

Submitted by David Barnsdale (United Kingdom), Nov 7, 2003 at 06:33

This article is a welcome change. However the implication is still that the right thing to would be to impose some direct or indirect
form of tutelage.

Democracy does need more than just free elections, it does need habits of behavior which take time to acquire. However the best school is a political system that takes the outward form of democracy despite flaws. To deny the Iraqis the freedom to make
mistakes will encourage politicians into the irresponsible luxury of blaming everything on America and her proxy.
And at the end of the day a full return to Iraqi sovereignty is the last thing the terrorists want as foreign influence is their best recruiting agent.

And why assume that immediate elections and a fast hand over will be seen as failure?

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