Preemption & Democracy in 22 Years
Reader comment on item: Defending and Advancing Freedom

Submitted by Raymond S. Kraft (United States), Nov 3, 2005 at 10:53

Daniel Pipes writes, in his article on the Doctrine of Preemption, that the emergence of democracy in Iraq should take 22 years, rather than 22 months, that democracy is the result of an evolution from tyranny, that it must be learned . . . I completely agree, but I also note that the Bush administration does not have the luxury of nurturing Iraqi democracy for 22 years, and whether the next administration, or any future administration, will take up or give up that goal and burden is entirely speculative.

Thus, if the objective is to light the tinder of democracy in the Middle East, and in Iraq in particular, President Bush has only until January, 2009, to push that objective as far as possible, and can only hope that his successors will not abandon the goal for domestic political expediency. Three more years, not 22.

If, as Mr. Pipes writes, and as I concur, a democratic Middle East is likely to increase safety and social and economic stability in the US, in Europe, in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, then President Bush, who shares that vision, has a political and moral, and Constitutional (national security) duty to do as much as possible to advance the goal of a democratized Middle East as much as he can, while he can.

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