Reply #8: Doesn't make sense

[ScottSA]

"While Washington had clearly not envisaged the results of its invasion in this way, its demand for "democracy" is now moving the tectonic plates of the Middle East in a new and uncertain direction. The Arab states outside the Shia "Crescent" fear Shia political power even more than they are frightened by genuine democracy."

But isn't democracy about rule by the majority? Especially when the majority has agreed to include the minority in the creation of a constitution, even though the minority Sunni didn't vote in the numbers the west had hoped? If the Shia form the majority of the population, then what is so bad about them winning the vote? Its not clear to me what the author suggests...avoid democracy in the ME lest it alarm the dictators? Aren't we Democrats always pointing out the dictators the repubs have cosied up to in South America in the past? It seems to me he's saying things should be left just the way they are, in spite of the fact that the way they are, or have been, is like a room full of gunpowder and various maniacs running around with torches.

We have to get realistic. Maybe shrub is right, this time.