In what must be a nail in the coffin of the Iraq war, U.S. Generals are openly calling for a change in the "Democracy or Bust" attitude of the Bush administration.
From an article today on CNN:
U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker and Gen. David Petraeus, the top American commander in Iraq, declined to be interviewed for this story, but they issued a joint statement to CNN that reiterated that the country's "fundamental democratic framework is in place" and that "the development of democratic institutions is being encouraged."
And, they said, they are helping Iraqi political leaders find ways "to share power and achieve legislative progress." But Crocker and Petraeus conceded they are "now engaged in pursuing less lofty and ambitious goals than was the case at the outset."
Maj. Gen. Benjamin Mixon, commander of Task Force Lightning, also reflected a less lofty American goal for Iraq's future.
"I would describe it as leaving an effective government behind that can provide services to its people, and security. It needs to be an effective and functioning government that is really a partner with the United States and the rest of the world in this fight against the terrorists," said Mixon, who will not be perturbed if such goals are reached without democracy.
"Well, see that all over the Middle East," he said, stating that democracy is merely an option, that Iraqis are free to choose or reject.
I don't know about you, but I happen to think democracy is the best form of government in the world. Everyone I know feels the same way and are thankful for their personal liberty. But at the same time, I loathe the thought of imposing our way of governing on other people with totally different belief systems. It's what has bothered me the most about the whole Iraqi conflict.
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