It would be great if Iraq could become a stable democracy. However, I have serious doubts that such a thing can be accomplished at this time. If democracy takes hold in Iraq the government will be Shia dominated and I fear what kind of relationship could develop between a Shia Iraq and a Shia Iran when the religious barrier between the two has an opportunity to be removed.

I think it creates a conundrum for Talabani when his job now is to convince all Iraqi factions that his govt is legit and he has the US/Israel, Arab/Israel problem to consider. He can not possibly convince his people of his govt's legitimacy if he sides with the US when it comes to Israel. When the Iraqi govt. comdemned Israel for their action in Lebanon earlier this summer it made me wonder if that was just a foreshadow of what Iraq's attitude toward Israel will be in the future.

The Iraqis who voted despite threat to their lives is very commendable, but I worry that despite all that has happened a democracy may not be successful and even if it is whether or not it will produce the positive outcome that this administration is looking for.

You know, I have been looking all over my copy of that commie rag Washington Post and can't seem to find any reference to this letter in any article. I guess that section must have blown away this morning...

Well half of America is helping them out of tyranny. The other half (ahem, Democrats) want them back under the bondage of oppression and rape rooms.