For once I disagree with Prof. Pipes

Submitted by G Borman (United States), Mar 9, 2010 at 21:55

The Iraqi Democracy experiment must eventually stand on its own. Now five years into self governance, I think we are seeing the organic emergence of authentic parties and politics. Iraq secured its own elections. Most of our troops in Iraq haven't fired their weapons in anger for months. While I think it would be a mistake not to keep some presence there as insurance of what Iraqis have achieved, I do not think Iraqis want to go backwards any time soon. In the countries surrounding Iraq, people see a prosperous secular democracy and wonder "why not here?"

Anyone who dreams of a mid east that can transcend the worst two centuries of its history has to hope there is a way forward to a nations that afford their people education, rights and opportunity. Modern Iraq proves that democracy can grow anywhere, even in former Arab dictatorships.

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