Democracy vs. Imperialism

Submitted by Arlinda DeAngelis (United States), Feb 11, 2003 at 21:26

Ms. Bousfield trusts none of the great democracies to do anything but act like imperialist aggressors because they have failed the Kurds, the Haitians etc. Further to that, the great democracies have failed the world led by America and George Bush. Never mind what America did in Italy, France, Germany, Holland and Japan in World War II and the long term vision of the Marshall Plan thwarted by only one Western country, France. Further to this we destoryed the Soviet Empire.

Ajami is correct, America and Great Britain will build a democratic Middle East because it is in the interest of democratic nations to encourage and secure democracy whenever possible. Democracy is the basis for peace. The core tenet of American foreign policy is that liberal democratic nations do not make war on one another. Obviously, no liberal democratic nation has made war on any other liberal democratic nation. Democracy means peace. "Liberal" in this context does not mean in opposition to "conservative." It means an open society with guaranteed individual rights. America is at times politically conservative, but it is a "liberal" democracy.

Islam is an oppressive tyrannical paternalistic politcal system which insures poverty, enslavement and tyranny throughout the world. Ajami is correct, Islam will give way to democracy because the human condition thrives on freedom and the prosperity it brings. Bacevich is also correct, the Islamic kings, princes, mullahs and ayatollahs will hold fast to the idea of enslavement and impoverishment for the many while permitting freedom and wealth for themselves but America and Great Britain will do for Iraq and the Islamic Middle East what these two great democracies have always done. They will create institutions and political systems to improve the human condition in the hell that Iraq calls a country.

The Middle East will then have two democracies and one less imperialist nation to wage war.

To paraphrase Thomas Jefferson, to wish for peace without democracy is to wish for what never was or ever will be.

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