[Schrodinger's Cat]

The success of that election remains to be seen in, IMO. We now have the countries on either side of Iraq - Syria and Iran - uniting in common defiance of the US. If our "freedom" as commonly perceived by the Muslim world is so wonderful, why should these two nations be taking their current stance?

Democracy is about the right of the governed to choose their own government. We have taken our Western tradition and imposed it upon that of a different culture. We gave one reason for doing this, and then quickly backpedaled when we found that our original premise had been an erroneous one. The actions of the US have shown a lack of integrity that is deplorable.

When the US first invaded and overthrew Saddam, the majority of Iraqi's were happy to see Saddam go. Unfortunately, the US filled the vacuum of power left by Saddam's demise with only another vacuum. Iraqi cities can expect to have as little as two hours of electricity a day. Iraqi women are afraid to leave their homes to go to hospitals to give birth. American soldiers kill parents in front of their children at checkpoints (a tragic accident) or force innocent civilians to jump into the Tigris River (a deliberate act of atrocity).

As Americans, we can reflect upon our country's creation with pride, as an act carried out by our own American forefathers. By contrast, the Iraqi's must look at their own "democracy" (if it stands) as an action imposed upon them by an alien culture and a nation which came to them in war, as an enemy, not as an ally, in peace.

Where is the "freedom" in all this?