[expatpat]

if they don't and they take the easy option of falling for some benign strongman, that's their problem, not America's.

Love Steyn, but it IS America's problem, look at Saddam, Mullah Omar of Afghanistan, Khameini of Iran.

[Dianna]

Love Steyn, but it IS America's problem, look at Saddam, Mullah Omar of Afghanistan, Khameini of Iran.

Yes, you definitely have a point. The other side of the coin is FORCING another country to be a democracy. The only way I can see for that truly to be done, is import a bunch of Americans to BE their democracy and kill/imprison anyone who could lead a rebellion.

There are a lot of things I think the American people would go along with, if it were explained to them in a simple, straightforward way. THIS is not one of them. We won't become imperialists, even if it is to our detriment. The American people won't believe that doing the "good" thing (not being imperial) is bad for us.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Love Steyn, but it IS America's problem, look at Saddam, Mullah Omar of Afghanistan, Khameini of Iran.

You missed the word "benign". No one would call those three benign. Well, maybe Moore would but he doesn't count. Let me rephrase that, No sane person would call those three benign.

But a strongman running things can be a not bad way to go and was the way most of the world has been run through out history. I hate to put it this way but you have to grow to the place where you understand power and what it should and should not be used for before you are ready for true self rule or liberty.

If you have a feudal mindset it will not work. Which is the problem with most of South America and Africa and Asia and to an extent with Europe.

Can Iraq do it? Maybe, they have a better chance then most but if they choose otherwise, to return to a monarchy or some other form of government as long as it is benign it would not necessarily be a bad thing.

[NovemberCharlie]

Steyn was describing the gerneral American reaction; he is a self-described imperialist - he seems to support American imperialism as a much-preferable alternative to Euro-socialist imperialism, Chinese imperialism, Islamist imperialism, or any of the other ideologies that are likely to be exported to the world.

But he has been disappointed; America has no taste for imperial adventures.

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To Pokey:

Oh look! A Steyn!