Imposing democracy on Iraq!
Mahmood Elahi, 2240 Iris Street, Ottawa, Canada
Although Saddam Hussein was a brutal dictator who committed genocide against his own people, the way he was executed by the US-backed Iraqi government has left many questions unanswered. Saddam was tried and executed under the shadow of US military occupation at a time when U.S. President George W. Bush's approval ratings are at a record low. To many skeptics, it might look like an attempt to spike up Mr. Bush's sagging popularity at home.In his attempts to bring democracy through armed intervention in Iraq, Mr. Bush seems to have forgotten that democracy cannot be imposed by force. It must grow within through a long process. Neo-conservatives often refer to democratisation of Germany and Japan after the Second World War as examples of America's success in transforming dictatorial regimes. But they tend to forget that both Germany and Japan had democratic interludes before the war and Hitler himself was elected by the German people. And Japan was going through a process of democratisation before the generals hijacked it in the name of the emperor. The oligarchs in the Middle East are following what may be called cultural essentialism while neo-cons in America are following what may be termed as cultural imperialism. Cultural essentialism stems from a belief among the oligarchs that it is essential for a ruler to be feared and not loved by the people. A ruler who is not feared by the people is perceived as weak and likely to be ousted. They tend to believe in Roman tyrant Caligula's dictum: "Let them hate as long as they fear." Saddam Hussein followed this to a fault and fear his people did. He brutalised the Shiite majority and the Kurdish minority and as long as he kept his brutal acts at home, no one cared. But once he crossed the line and brutalised Kuwait -- an American ally -- and threatened Saudi Arabia, another US ally, he infuriated the world's only superpower and his fate was sealed. Mr. Bush and his neo-conservative advisers seem to be following cultural imperialism in the name of spreading democracy. They used America's enormous military power to oust the dictator, hoping to bring democracy in Iraq. But instead of bringing democracy, the US military intervention has widened the sectarian divide and Saddam's hanging will only add to a conflict which has already cost countless Iraqi and 3,000 American lives. Neo-cons must realize that they have failed because democracy cannot be imposed on a people by the marines and their high-tech weapons. Only an orderly withdrawal of American troops may allow the Sunnis and the Shiites to find a common ground to live together. Any escalation of US military presence will only cost more Iraqi and American lives and an already violent situation may spiral out of control. The avoid further catastrophe, the American people must force Mr. Bush to withdraw from Iraq immediately.
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