[Overpaid Slacker]

Democracy is the Key. Don't take my word for it, take Zarqawi's:

We have declared a fierce war on this evil principle of democracy and those who follow this wrong ideology. Democracy is also based on the right to choose your religion [... and that is]against the rule of God."

NOTE -- Zarqawi is al-Qaeda's top shytbag in Iraq, appointed by OBL himself, and notice he's not saying this is a fight to the death against "imperialism" or "capitalism" or "occupation" or any other bullshyt red herring our left so easily falls for. He's shown his hand, kids! It is Democracy that they fear -- why? Because it can't be turned to their benefit like greed, corruption and unanswerability can -- they know that popular sentiment is against them and they can only rule by oppression, by stifling opportunity and smothering liberty.

OBL said in December "Anyone who participates in these elections . has committed apostasy against Allah."

He also said that Iraqi forces who aid the upcoming elections "are apostates who should not be prayed over upon their deaths. They cannot inherit, and they must not be inherited from [after their deaths]. Their wives are divorced from them, and they must not be buried in Muslim cemeteries."

Seems to be about Democracy. Regardless of the scoffing at such notions on this side of history -- you know, the "enlightened" side of history we're supposed to share.

As fellow travellers in the power-by-oppression racket, the Mullahs in Iran's Theocracy have to be soiling their dresses right now. THAT kind of pressure will work if anything short of military intervention will; if and to the extent negotiation gets any traction at all with Iran it's b/c of that kind of pressure -- which is the direct, immediate and irrefutable result of the exertion of will through military power and our continued military presence.

The current ruling regimes in Cuba and Iran (and others) and those sympathetic to such regimes love to speak in terms of the poor, oppressed masses ousting American influence. No. Don't buy that, even with a certificate of authenticity from Noam Chomsky himself. The "uprising" forces in those countries had one agenda -- a raw, naked power grab. If they needed a demon to blame in order to justify their actions, hey the US is the number one all-time justification for evil and oppression by others.

I'll readily stipulate that there was corruption at the top in Iran and Cuba, but to lay that at America's doorstep, as though America created corruption, is intellectually lazy; which is why it has such appeal to a certain demographic, probably. But what has throwing off the shackles of Evil American influence led to: the antithesis of democracy, oppression, capricious "justice" by an unanswerable ruling class, poverty (relatively speaking in Iran's case, but only b/c of oil), constantly simmering rebellion, and a self-perpetuating thugocratic governance. What a bargain. In retrospect, reforming the system they had probably seems like a better idea to 95% of Iranians and Cubans.

"Whew!!! Glad America is gone and we can live in our Islamic/Socialist Paradise!!!!" -- How many people in Iran or Cuba outside the ruling class do you believe ever said those words?

k911 -- olive branch accepted, and I agree that things could have been handled better; my point is that they always can be handled better. I'd rather we not have to kickdown Iran's door and drain that swamp too ... but if we do, I'll support that cause. Even if it is swaddled in "we're only doing this b/c W's on a Mission from Gawd" crap from our anti-religion, W-hating mass media sources.

JP