Empire America?

[headsplice]

To summarize: democracy and self-determination are key to improving the state of mind of the average middle eastern person.

Why am I against the invasion of Iraq? Because I don't trust this Administration to improve democracy and self-determination in the region. They sure as shit haven't done it in their own country (USA Patriot Act, anyone?).

To clarify: Bush is not a fascist. He is a proto-fascist. He is setting the groundwork for people after him to do whatever the hell they please, because that's what he likes to do.

But, Bush&Co. are not the only ones doing it. They are one example of a greater cultural trend. Our power structures have been centralizing for the past several decades. The rise of the power of the executive (both in the corporate and governmental senses) and the creation of massive federal bureaucracies (operational like the Armed Forces [lumping soldiers and intel all together], and supportive, like the Social Services Administration) are two more examples.

And after that slight diversion, back to the point:
If we invade, even if it isn't unilaterally, and we don't back up our promises with the creation of a TRULY liberal democracy (and NOT just a puppet regime that will kowtow to whatever we want, which, in and of itself is hard to believe), then what will the response of the Islamic world be? Is that reaction (which will be invariably REALLY bad) worth putting Hussein out of our misery?

Oh, and UT, that is a PET (Personal Entrenchment Tool) used to dig the hole you will be buried in (or so I'm told)