Democracy in Iraq

Democracy in Iraq

The date is March 20, 2003; American forces enter Iraq in the form of air strikes over the capital city of Baghdad. The night sky lights up from anti-aircraft fire from Iraqi sites. The echoing sound of bombs and heavy explosions tremble in the night sky that knew of silence just decades ago. Now eighteen months have pasted, the regime is overthrown, and over one thousand American soldiers have lost their lives in the battle for Democracy in the Middle East. Everyday the numbers of American deaths spent to create Democracy increase. And everyday the number of dollars spent to create Democracy increase. Is it really a possible goal? Can the Americans establish Democracy in Iraq? The five fundamental ideals of Democracy support the common man, but in Iraq is this really what the common man wants?

"It seems to me you hate the one thing that to us is most precious. You hate our freedom. Our individual freedom. Our individual freedom to live as we choose, to come and go as we choose, to believe or not believe as we individually choose." ~ Judge William Young in trial against Richard Reid (charged for intent to blow up jumbo jet on January 30, 2003. Reid used to be Iraqi citizen. This quote is said by an American judge who shares the passion that is needed for a democracy to work. )

Democracy requires freedom for all that is the foundation that a Democratic government is based on. This individual freedom can be restrained, but it can never be taken away. In Iraq the government that once controlled all people was a dictatorship led by Saddam Hussein. This government exists when those who rule do so without regard for the will of their constituents. This type of government does not take responsibility for its policies or the ways that the policies are carried out. The dictatorship form of ruling started with the famous Julius Caesar, dictatorships were common because of simplicity. The ideal of individual freedom was and is not present in dictatorships because the men in charge did not believe it to be a significant value to try to preserve. Throughout America's history, our democratic government, one where you can go where you will, leave when you will, and do as you will, has been looked up to by others. Iraq is a country marked by killing and bloodshed, a part of life which the citizens know and understand; there democracy is not yet the solution. Democracy in Iraq will not work because the individual freedom given to all the citizens will be taken advantage of by select militia gangs and groups. Iraqis are not used to having freedom, they are not used to not fearing new ideas, and they are not used to the control of a different country. Iraq is an unsafe country and the Americans need to realize that and fix the number one priority first.

With over one hundred different groups of people in Iraq with uncountable different views on what a free Iraq should look like, it is difficult to decide what to do with their government. Another key to democratic success is the necessity of compromise. The compromise that is needed is what goes on in our local, state, and national governments every single day. This compromise has to be acceptable to a majority of the people and the public policies have to propose several answers. The U.S.