|
|
|
|
chaloobi
SFN Regular
1620 Posts |
 Posted - 04/05/2004 : 12:15:28
|
I don't know if this belongs in the religion or the politics forum since it seems the two are entwined deeply. I was reading the news about the Shiite cleric the army's going after in Iraq. There were pictures of his followers demonstrating and they were holding up photos of him and apparently chanting in his name, etc.
This whole arrangement is incomprehensible to me. I can't understand the political power these guys have, why their followers are willing to die for them. It's like they're revered as gods, infallible, all powerful. It's crazy.
How is democracy even possible in a culture like that? The people don't even want it. With the way they jump when these clerics bark, there'll never be true political freedom. It's absurd to think the US can set up a democracy in Iraq - not without destroying this Islamic cleric-worship culture, which in practice would require some level of genocide. The whole exercise is futile.
|
-Chaloobi
|
Edited by - chaloobi on 04/05/2004 12:19:39
|
|
|
Tim
SFN Regular
USA
775 Posts |
 Posted - 04/05/2004 : 12:37:13 [Permalink]
|
Wecome to the board, Chaloobi.
I agree that introducing some level of democracy to Iraq is possible, but that will involve changing the way the people think, and that will take a very long time, and more than just the US gov't.
Our administration has taken up the policies of Israel in dealing with people in the Middle East. The more resistnce we recieve, the more military options we use, and the more soldiers we put in place. This is not a bad policy unless this is your only policy. The US Administration shoots, but never addresses the reasons why these people are upset.
Addressing violence with violence without addressing the root causes of that violence is a bad policy in any arena. |
"We got an issue in America. Too many good docs are gettin' out of business. Too many OB/GYNs aren't able to practice their -- their love with women all across this country." Dubya in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, 9/6/2004
|
 |
|
|
chaloobi
SFN Regular
1620 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2004 : 12:51:17 [Permalink]
|
Thanks for the welcome. I've been poking around here a bit, trying to get a feel for the activity level here and the caliber of the Registered.
On the scale that the Bush Administration (apparently) has planned to be involved in Iraq, both in terms of time and cost, I don't think setting up a real democracy is possible. And I don't think the American public would accept the kind of commitment it would take to successfully create a democracy anyway. |
-Chaloobi
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Topic Locked
