CSPAN Question: Is Iraq ready for self-government?

[Q]

- This question implies that the Bush* government is in Iraq to establish Democracy. It also ignores the fact that the war is illegal by international standards.

- One of the first callers said that 'Democrats have always been for slavery and against freedom'. The obvious implication here is that Democratic opposition to the war equates with being against 'freedom'.

- Anyway...what's your take on this question? Is Iraq 'ready' for self-government?

[THUNDER HANDS]

1. If that means

Is Iraq ready to turn into three different Afghanistans, then yes.

[Racenut20]

2. I believe they are ready

For a 3 or 4 way Civil war that would fragment the country into tribal areas.

[eridani]

11. What about a velvet divorce?

Worked for Czechoslovakia, no?

[Rose Siding]

3. They are asking US citizens?

Ignoring the folly and hubris of implying our authority to decide that for others, the more appropriate question (considering the audience): Is Iraq ready to sell its govt to the cagiest bidder?

[HFishbine]

4. Wrong Question

I wanted to try to call, but my phone battery is dead. The point I would make is that the question that will matter is not whether or not the Iraqis are ready for democracy, but can the administration be assured that their corporate and military aims can be preserved if the Iraqis are allowed democracy?

[rucky]

5. our paternalistic attitude shines through

If their hearts are beating, they are ready for self-government.

If they want our help in organizing it, or keeping it safe, or whatever, we should be at their disposal.

The US being in control is worse than a temporary power vacuum. Every day we're there, anti-western sentiments (rightfully) rise among the people. They may not end up with the government we're hoping for, but whatever they get with will be theirs. The longer we wait for self-government, the more unfriendly that government will be to us.

[BJ]

6. When the Iraqis turn their economy over to the World Bank & the IMF

Then the oil fields will be privatized and safely in the hands of ExxonMobil, BPAmaco, PhillipsConoco, ChevronTexaco.

Saddam Hussein's biggest crime, following the Iran-Iraq war of '80-'88, was that he didn't turn Iraq's economy over to the World Bank and the IMF. Iraq's oil fields remained a nationized asset with profits, after Saddam and his cronies skimmed off their considerable cut, going into the national treasury.

As for the 'Democrats have always been for slavery and against freedom' crack. I've been sparring with some right wing (reactionary) nuts of late and they hold the premise that: 1. all governments rule by force; 2. all forms of government are corrupt; 3. the market place, in both micro and macro sense as I follow their mantra, is free because it is based on choice(except for women choosing early pregancy termination);4. therefore no governmental interference in the workings of the market but I quess governmental interference in the bedroom's o.k.

[LSparkle]

7. They are, and we may not like the result

I liked the first caller's comment about us never having been for democracy in the region. If the Iraqis want real democracy, the first thing they need to do is get us (and our private interests) out of there.

[leftofthedial]

8. No. Iraq is ready for a civil war

among the various factions who would wish to govern.

I don't think the Bush GOPNAC Cabal would like any of the "homegrown" alternatives. This means Halliburton will install its own puppet, just like in Afghanistan, the difference being that in Afghanistan the puppet government actually controls most of the capital. In Iraq, the puppet government won't control anything but an insurrection.

Remember Diem in Viet Nam?

[rustydog]

9. Is America ready for self-government should be the question

Are we ready to be free of the murdering tyrannical Bush Regime?

Our national Psyche took a solid hit on 9-11 and Rove had Bush playing on that like it was Nero's fiddle.

The Iraqí people survived the Ottoman Empire, i think they can shrug off a bush-whacker.

[Scott Lee]

10. The real question is - why was theirs taken away in the first place

Follow up question: Is the USA ready to govern themselves PROPERLY again?