[February 24, 2025] Eighteen years ago, give or take a couple of months, I had a valuable philosophical discussion with a very perceptive U.S. Army General. Brigadier General John McDonald had an uncanny ability to understand the Iraqi people. At least he was more honest about them than our Department of State folks, who knew little at all. BG McDonald told me, flat out, that democracy in Iraq is a dead issue. “It’s over, forget it [meaning democracy],” he said.
“Iraqis don’t care about democracy because they have only seen the dark side of democracy. They have seen more violence, threats, less food, less electricity, and a weak government unable to get a handle on the situation.” — BG John McDonald, from notes (OIF 06-08, Book 3, page 50) I took on December 26, 2006
This may come as a shock to those in the West who pin all our hopes on the democratic process, elections, voting for the best candidate, a balance of powers, and the rule of law. Sometimes, though, we need to admit that a democratic style of government can be insufficient, especially when it becomes corrupt or undermined by highly organized criminal or terrorist organizations.
“Iraqis want a strong government to fix the problems, and they don’t care what type – democratic, dictatorial, or whatever. They want the criminals and insurgents hit hard and held down so they can get about their regular lives.” — ibid
I’ve said this many times in the past: Americans just don’t get it. We Americans assume everyone thinks and lives like us, has the same problems, and adores the democratic form of government. That ain’t so. Americans have it good. We’re rich – relatively rich – and therefore have much more flexibility and freedom guided by a Constitution than anyone else in the world. And we’re spoiled.
“They [the Iraqes] do prefer to live where they don’t have to worry about things like food and electricity. The socialist system gives them these things. Curfews are okay.” — ibid
In this last quote, I wrote “socialist” because that is the quick go-to fix the Middle East uses when searching for something that works for them right out of the box. Dictatorships are preferred because it’s strong and fast operating, and the dictator himself doesn’t care who he crushes.
Americans are fixated on democracy and don’t understand its downsides. To get a good look at how a democratically elected government can go wrong, look at most of Western Europe today, particularly the United Kingdom and Germany.
In my three years in Iraq, where I traveled all across the country and met many Iraqis, I discovered that they are more similar to us than different. That may come as a surprise but most people, I think we can admit, just want to be left alone with their families, friends, and religion so they can live and worship in peace. Their problem in Iraq and across Muslim countries, is there is a small percentage who are violent extremists, living among the ordinary citizens and are radicalized by Islamic teachings.
The Iraqis are not blind to this fact. This is where weak and corrupt governments in the past failed their entire population; a not uncommon situation in the Middle East. Some of the most famous autocrats live in the Eastern World and only a few parts of the West. The problem is radicals in Islam and the terror brought on by them are best handled by hardcore, strong governments willing to do those things democracies abhor.
The question then begs itself. Is democracy the answer? In many cases like Iraq, for now, the answer is no.
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Please read my books:
Iraq is struggling. They do want democracy, so I disagree. Let’s see how things go over the next few years. Iran’s status will determine Iraq’s status.
Ha Ha, great start on what Iraq cannot be.
That is true. Iraq is spiraling downward like its sister in crime, Iran. It won’t take much longer for them both to collapse totally. I’m sitting here with my popcorn waiting for the entertainment.
“Iraqis don’t care about democracy because they have only seen the dark side of democracy. They have seen more violence, threats, less food, less electricity, and a weak government unable to get a handle on the situation.” — BG John McDonald, from notes (OIF 06-08, Book 3, page 50) I took on December 26, 2006
American Commie traitors like Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, and their ilk, just like Benedict Arnold and Mark Milley, have sucked off the taxpayers long enough and lied about it and enriched themselves. We are not that different from Communist nations, except the grift and fraud is much deeper in dictatorships. Iraq may have a “democratic” government but it exists in name only. The people do NOT respect their own government because it is still “tribal,” just like Gen. Satterfield says. Oh, and the biggest fraudster is Joe Biden and his crime family.
I think they currently have a parliamentary form of government based on a European model. But they continue to slide into partisan tribal-centric politics and to their great disaster. This is what happens to Muslim nations. They cannot be democratic because all political action comes down to which family or tribe to which you belong. It’s not impossible but unlikely they will succeed in holding onto what they have because democracy in its most basic form requires a Christian nation, of which they are not.
“Ask not what you can do for your country, ask what you can do for your tribe.” — unknown Iraqi
Good one, Elizabeth and welcome aboard.
Well said, Winston 👍