The NY Times has a very interesting article about possibly forged Iraqi ballots being smuggled in from Iran (or not?). Even if that part of the story turns out to be untrue, I think the article gives a great deal of insight into the war on terror, and just how important democracy is in the Middle East (particularly regarding Iran).
Iran is a theocracy and basically run by Islam. I’ve heard it said before that much of what ails the Middle East is that they have not learned how to govern themselves outside of this religious umbrella (which the western world figured out hundreds of years ago). People here in the US of wimpy A have no endurance or foresight in Iraq, but we need only look to that region to see that our role there is vital. Iraq is poised to become the second major democracy in the region, and it has countries like Iran running scared.
I think it is important to stop and ponder Iran’s response to democracy in Iraq. Mind you, this is a country whose president has said that the Holocaust never happened, that Israel should be destroyed, and that continues to develop nuclear weapons while the United Nations pees itself. Iran is deathly afraid of democracy, which is all the reason why we should be steadfast in making sure it succeeds.
The next time someone says "I dunno, I just think we’ve been there long enough, it’s time to come home," do me a favor and slap some sense into them.
