[Steve_Seattle]

" . . . this administration's idiotic decision in the aftermath of 9/11 to topple one of the most secular, moderate governments in the Middle East at the time (the Ba'athist government in Iraq)."

This is the first time I've ever heard anyone describe Saddam's regime as "moderate." But we WERE told it was the most secular in the Middle East, and that is precisely one of the reasons why we choose to invade it. We thought the transition to democracy would be facilitated by the secularism. But now we are finding out that that "secular" image was largely false, and that the country - like all the other Muslim countries - is a hotbed of religious fanaticism, clericalism, sectarianism, and tribalism.

[Bahbah]

But now we are finding out that that "secular" image was largely false, and that the country - like all the other Muslim countries - is a hotbed of religious fanaticism, clericalism, sectarianism, and tribalism.

Excellent point!

[Earthdweller]

......[Iraq's]"secular" image was largely false, and that the country - like all the other Muslim countries - is a hotbed of religious fanaticism, clericalism, sectarianism, and tribalism."

True.. but I think we new that because Saddam always got 100% of the vote.

[Eagle of Liberty]

But now we are finding out that that "secular" image was largely false, and that the country - like all the other Muslim countries - is a hotbed of religious fanaticism, clericalism, sectarianism, and tribalism.

Oh bullcrap! Any nation would be a hotbed of sectarianism if outside forces were pouring in money, weapons and fighters to build up the sects. If we destroy the radical forces right now like Sadr and tell Iran and Syria to stay the hell out or else look to the skies for incoming Tomahawks, Iraq WOULD be able to stand on its own two feet.

[lucysmom]

We thought the transition to democracy would be facilitated by the secularism. But now we are finding out that that "secular" image was largely false, and that the country - like all the other Muslim countries - is a hotbed of religious fanaticism, clericalism, sectarianism, and tribalism.

The "flypaper" theory would seem to contradict that.

[Alberta's Child]

In Iraq, Sunnis have long been considered more "secular" by nature than Shi'ites. And the Sunni Ba'athist government was "moderate" in ways that were highly unusual in the Middle East. It was one of the only places in the region where Christians were permitted to run their own schools, and the Iraqi government under Saddam Hussein had people in prominent positions who weren't even Muslims (Tariq Aziz, for example, is either a Chaldean or Maronite Christian).

I wonder how many Christians there are in the current Iraqi government.

[Alberta's Child]

But now we are finding out that that "secular" image was largely false, and that the country - like all the other Muslim countries - is a hotbed of religious fanaticism, clericalism, sectarianism, and tribalism.

In other words, the person who would be most effective at dealing with the sh!t we are now seeing in Iraq is currently sitting in an Iraqi jail.

The irony here is quite remarkable, isn't it?