their will be a people's government in the middle of the kingdoms of syria and saudi arabia...and the theocracy of iran.
and the idea of having a democracy is a contagious disease.
I'm sorry. Democracy is inherently superior to monarchy and theocracy... why?
because it's the system we've got?
Sure, it's the system you've got. But why is it inherently better than monarchy or theocracy?
Why isn't it?
Ah ah ah. Burden of proof is on you.
But since you asked, all three systems of government are inherently equal, depending on a particular cultural weltanschaung. There are nations that choose to remain monarchies; this includes many of these Middle Eastern countries, such as Saudi Arabia, for one. Theocracies are valid in countries where religion is fairly homogeneous.
Of course, there are limits to any system. Tyranny and oppression are some; others include corruption, subjugation, and blatant political discrimination (the latter a particular danger in theocracies).
For all the faults these systems possess, democracy has its own myriad weaknesses. Remember, just because
you and I think people should be able to choose representatives to govern themselves does not make it a universal ethic. Nations have gotten along fine and actually prospered for centuries without democracy. The notion that democracy is somehow superior to other systems of government is fostered by the "Whiggish" myth of progress, a teleology that maps its own imperial, industrial roots onto the global canvas without regards to context and streamlines a historical narrative so torn with tautologies that it obscures all perspective and reason. In a twisted way, it reasons that that which is not part of itself (industrialized, democratized, "civilized") is,
prima facie, barbaric and primitive.
We're agreed that Saddam's dictatorship was atrocious, and we're (probably) agreed that someone had to put an end to it at some point (whatever the motives behind such a move). What I take issue with is the idea that, somehow, democracy is now the salvation of a nation that doesn't even want its "saviors" around.
The problem is not the system, it's those who abuse the system. And that goes for
any system.
*Disclaimer: This is not to count as a slight to any soldiers posted anywhere for any reason. To serve your country takes courage, something which I'm short on, so kudos to you. Ideology and tactics versus the man posted on the front: these concepts are far removed from each other. Need proof? World War I.