Daniel J. Pipes

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I Don't see it working

Reader comment on item: A Strongman for Iraq?

Submitted by Tom Bewick (United States), Apr 30, 2003 at 16:10

Unless the strongman put in place is a foreigner, he or she will face the same issues as a democratic leader. The dictator would be subject to accusations of bias and corruption by other ethnic groups or polictical factions, not to mention being suspected of working as an American puppet, like so many of the worlds dictators in place now or in recent decades. In order to quell this opposition, force would be necessary. And how do you do that fairly?

Besides, I hardly see Chaing Kai-Shek and Ataturk as model transitors to democracy. They are both responsible for the slaughter of millions of people.

Ask Iraqis if they want a dictator. Or are we so superior and self-righteous as to impose this upon them?

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Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

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