Democracy Might Be Impossible, US Was Told

[DUreader]

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0814-06.htm


WASHINGTON -- US intelligence officials cautioned the National Security Council before the Iraq
war that the American plan to build democracy on the ashes of Saddam Hussein's regime -- as a
model for the rest of the region -- was so audacious that, in the words of one CIA report in March, it
could ultimately prove "impossible."

That assessment ran counter to what the Bush administration was saying at the time as it sought to
build support for the war. President Bush said a democratic Iraq would lead to more liberalized,
representative governments, where terrorists would find less popular support, and the Muslim world
would be friendlier to the United States. "A new regime in Iraq would serve as an inspiring example
of freedom for other nations in the region," he said on Feb. 26.

The question of how quickly, and easily, the United States could establish democracy in Iraq was
the key to a larger concern about how long US troops would be required to stay there, and how
many would be needed to maintain security. The administration offered few assessments of its own
but dismissed predictions by the army chief of staff of a lengthy occupation by hundreds of
thousands of troops.

Now, frustration among Iraqis about a lack of stability and the slow pace of reconstruction -- and
new evidence that Islamic militants are slipping into Iraq to take up arms against the Americans --
are leading the administration to lengthen its plans to keep troops in Iraq for up to four years. And the
Pentagon is moving to lower expectations for a shift to democracy, suggesting that a liberal
democracy is an ideal worth fighting for, but acknowledging the difficulty of creating one.

[ewagner]

1. Questions

What CIA report in March?

Who wrote it?

Better yet, who read it?

[bowens43]

2. We all knew that , didn't we?

Is there anyone who posts here who thought that democracy could be imposed on the people of Iraq?

[Desertrose]

4. "Imposing democracy"

Does anyone else see how these two could be considered an oxymoronic statement??
:eyes:

Only in *'s regime could they miss the obvious....sigh....

Peace
DR

[frylock]

5. imposing democracy.. kinda like saying 'when i want your opinion..

i'll beat it out of you'!!

[DinahMoeHum]

3. Hey, can't say they weren't warned.

n/t

:evilfrown:

[primavera]

7. Sure they can

Haven't you heard? Anyone who prefers the truth over the shrub's conveniently selective memory is guilty of revisionist history!

[StandWatie]

6. it's disengenous

Democracy is very possible, a pro-western democracy is probably unachievable in the current climate so it's not really "impossible" it's just not in our best interests concerning oil and regional stability.

[Capt_Nemo]

9. EXACTLY!

[DrBB]

8. A well-publicized State Dept

assessment around the same time said the same thing--that the neo-con vision for the outcome in Iraq was HIGHLY unlikely. Of course being State Dept., it was ignored by the Admin. And "well-publicized"--well, it was in the major publications for a day or so, some of 'em anyway.

[Pocho]

10. AND HOW WOULD THE US DEFINE SUCH DEMOCRACY?

Would it be based on the hypocritical example that the person who gets the most votes assumes the office? Or, would it follow US bigotry based on national origin, sex, both gender and preference, religion, and race? Possibly it could emphasize freedom as in making war whenever profit and internal political considerations dictate. The freedom of allowing corporations to do whatever suits could be another lesson.

I believe Iraqis, might be more interested in such as food, education, safety, and comfort as in such fashion as they choose to prioritize and configure. That might start with the freedom to be free of the United States.

[Old and In the Way]

11. I'm sure the PNAC crew was thinking about a model of Democracy

similar to the 21st century version they have created for the US.