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False Dichotomy in Postwar Planning

Reader comment on item: After Saddam? Remaking the Mideast

Submitted by Todd Wintering (United States), Feb 14, 2003 at 16:02

The fate of a post-Saddam Iraq is an extremely complex issue and we should be wary of framing the debate as an either/or choice between two overly simplified options. On the one hand the optimists seem to claim that democracy can take root in Mesopotamia practically overnight and point to the success of democratization efforts in Germany and Japan after WWII. Pessimists rightly counter that such views ignore important cultural factors which make some societies more receptive to democracy than others. Mr. Carter and others (Stanley Kurtz comes to mind) make a good point in calling attention to the role of the Meiji Restoration in laying the cultural foundation for the success of MacArthur's democratization. However, these objections do not obviate the eventual need to bring democracy to the Arab world.
Although pessimists such as Bacevich offer valid criticism their alternative is equally unacceptable. The failure of the Islamic world to come to grips with modernity fuels the movement toward Militant Islam. Force alone cannot solve this problem. From a long term perspective the status quo in the Middle East is simply unacceptable. No display of military force can turn anachronism such as Saudi Arabia into a reliable ally.
We should instead seek a third route of gradual reform. Instead of insisting on immediate democracy, we should focus of the cultural prerequisites for democracy's emergence. Although we cannot expect to implement "one man, one vote" overnight we can certainly do better than repressive theocracies and Baath dictatorships. We should insist at a minimum on the following reforms:
-Rule of Law and secular government, including an independent judiciary. An absolute end to state support of militant Islam
-An adherence to basic norms of human rights
-The development of an independent press and a system of seuclar education
-Private property rights and transparency in government as a measure to curb corruption and attract investment

We should institute a republican form of government to be run initially by a narrow, Westernized elite with the U.S. military remaining to secure stability. With a rational government and an open economy we should see burgeoning middle class. As this class develops they can be graudally incorporated into the political process, eventually achieving full democracy over the course of two or three generations. Democracy developed gradually in the modern West through a similar process. Even pessimists should agree that these modest initial goals are within our power and are certainly preferable to the likes of Mr. Hussein.
Submitting....

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Reader comments (45) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
Correction: Not "Don't Be Greedy!" but "Don't Get Greedy!" [2 words]Jonathan RickJan 5, 2005 08:3419427
Deconstruct Theocracy [91 words]Don van SickleApr 21, 2003 12:078494
difficulties ahead... [16 words]p cormanyApr 17, 2003 14:458427
Time to leave Saudi?? [69 words]Mark HMar 21, 2003 16:317497
Democracy at home - Tyranny Abroad [60 words]AhmedMar 14, 2003 15:037256
The theory of intended and unintended consequences [442 words]Shfep FargotsteinMar 12, 2003 12:177201
After Saddam? Remaking the Middle East [176 words]Wahid BoctorMar 3, 2003 00:527009
Keep up the fantastic work! [20 words]Dave PryceFeb 18, 2003 01:526707
Democracy? [25 words]HarmoniaFeb 17, 2003 10:216695
Playing the "Liberation" card [510 words]Dr. Ron PollandFeb 17, 2003 09:536694
Freedom of the Media IS necessary for Peace in the Middle East [250 words]Alex DashevskyFeb 16, 2003 14:046688
Not OK Oday [361 words]Chas. DahlinFeb 15, 2003 15:536674
Democracy is born out of maturity [213 words]Karsten BraschFeb 15, 2003 14:396672
3Problems in the US Policy [1260 words]Aslele ZaabiFeb 14, 2003 23:176658
False Dichotomy in Postwar Planning [409 words]Todd WinteringFeb 14, 2003 16:026648
Japan and the ME are like chalk and cheese [124 words]S.R.JudahFeb 14, 2003 08:156638
Beyond Technicality [107 words]A HFeb 13, 2003 19:266624
Japan [113 words]M SchultehenrichFeb 13, 2003 14:316618
Revamping the UN [354 words]Shep FargotsteinFeb 13, 2003 10:106610
How I see it at this time [106 words]Manuel GwiazdaFeb 13, 2003 08:306607
I'm with Ajami [96 words]Paul M. NevilleFeb 12, 2003 19:336598
Do we believe the Declaration? [164 words]Joseph SomselFeb 12, 2003 18:176595
Ready for Democracy [85 words]Ted VolckhausenFeb 12, 2003 15:056592
After Saddam - One Detail You Did Not Mention [333 words]Joseph E. RendiniFeb 12, 2003 14:176591
Notes [340 words]Alo KievalarFeb 12, 2003 11:376584
After Saddam: Islam Confronts Democracy [425 words]Dave DavisFeb 11, 2003 21:306573
Democracy vs. Imperialism [330 words]Arlinda DeAngelisFeb 11, 2003 21:266572
We'd have to be brutal with terrorists [192 words]Catherine FFeb 11, 2003 20:326571
America's Destiny [137 words]William L. KorstadFeb 11, 2003 19:526569
Democracy's Core Value [127 words]David JacobFeb 11, 2003 19:326567
Calling the Fouad Ajami Brigade [181 words]Andreas SamsonFeb 11, 2003 17:456565
To the above poster [49 words]JeffFeb 11, 2003 16:376564
Democracy and security are inseparable. [365 words]Quin RobertsFeb 11, 2003 15:566563
Give democracy a chance [233 words]Amir ZadehFeb 11, 2003 12:336556
Arabs already have disposable divorce [66 words]GloriaFeb 11, 2003 12:326555
Strongly disagree ! [225 words]R.IsakFeb 11, 2003 11:486553
Caution in the Middle East [625 words]James M. CarterFeb 11, 2003 11:356552
Forget About Reforming Iraq -- or the Arab World [311 words]Ralph WinstanleyFeb 11, 2003 11:086551
RE: Glenn Klotz's question [173 words]Bob SamualsFeb 11, 2003 10:586550
After Iraq [96 words]John HampeFeb 11, 2003 10:556549
Not trusting the US or the UK to take a long term view :response to Ajami's view [532 words]elaine bousfieldFeb 11, 2003 10:406548
Outstanding balanced article [107 words]John S. MorganFeb 11, 2003 10:396547
Can This Go On? [122 words]Steven HessFeb 11, 2003 10:216545
Liberals & Liberal democracy [108 words]Glenn KlotzFeb 11, 2003 09:476538
Famous Victory? [193 words]Graham Rael-BrookFeb 11, 2003 09:026537

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