Islam vs democracy (fit in, home, living)

[yamahastar]

This is by no means an attempt to discuss religion. Question: Can anyone tell me why we think we can make Iraq a democracy after thousands of years?

[Chris19]

It is possible, but would be very difficult and time consuming. It has to be an effort of the people as opposed to us trying to make them one. With other countries, democracies have been successful after many years of authortarian or religious law but are successful due to the effort and will of the people to have that type of government. Yes, it would be nice if Iraq was a western-like democracy, but it may get there over time. Most likely, Iraq would be a mix of democracy and something else.

[pikie]

Good question!

It is wishful thinking, isn't it? Time will tell, but sometimes I feel as if it's impossible, because over there, they don't debate like we do in this country -- they blow each other up when they have differences. We see this everyday in Islamic democracies like Pakistan and the other pseudo democracies that have religious police superceding and invalidating democracy -- along with Sharia law. As far as women, they will never have full recogntion in any Islamic country .

Overall, they might not be ready for it in Iraq!

[Chris19]

A lot of people in that part of the world know nothing but violence and being ruled with an iron fist. With the Middle East, these people have been fighting since the beginning of time, are fighting, and will fight until the end of the world comes. With us meddling our hands into their perpetual conflicts, we are asking for trouble. A democracy would set a good example and would encourage others to follow, but that is easier said than done.

[GI_Mark]

This is what I've come to learn for myself...

These countries, Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, or name your armpit country all have much in common. That is, vast areas of uninhabitable country with little to no way of policing them. There were times where we would drive for 14+ hours and wouldn't see a living soul in Southern Afghanistan and then all of a sudden here was a little village of maybe 14 people. What the hell were they doing all the way out there in, litterally, the middle of nowhere ?? Well, they farm and herd animals, nothing more. No running water, no electric, no nothing. Speaking with them through our interpreter the didn't even know what a toilet or the internet was. Can you imagine ??

Point is, we have city police, county sherrifs, state troopers, and back home we have township patrols as well. They have no one to do what our police force does and even if they did, there are still parts of those countries that are next to impossible to get to except on foot.

It makes it very easy for the bad guys to find a place to hide out and train. When the government of these countries have the ability to police themselves, maybe it will change, but as someone already mentioned, look at Pakistan. They are a democracy that still has all the issues of a religiously ran islamic country. If it wasn't for all the money being pumped into that country by the U.S. they wouldn't be viewed much better than Iraq, Afghanistan, or Iran.

As a Soldier, it pains me to say this but, the only way WE, as a country are going to fix anything in those countries is to maintain high troop levels and continue to pump money and training into them. Sad part about that is, it still may not work because when you have people that are content farming and herding in the middle of nowhere, what good are you really doing them ?? To force them to make that change brings war and death. That in turn builds distrust and anger towards those who think they are helping.

It's a double edged sword where all any of us can do is hope things work out for the best...

[Jammie]

Yea, maybe we just need to leave them alone so they can continue fighting over each other's sand for another thousand years.

[GI_Mark]

It has always been said, the person to fear is the one with nothing to lose. Well, if you live in a mudhut, 14+ hours from anything resembling a city, have no medical care, and your existence most would consider next to impossible, don't you fit into that category ??

Some would much rather die in (in their opinion) service to their God than to continue in that existence...