[Gay State Conservative]

I hope we're not going to measure success by the number of liquor stores! The ease with which ordinary citizens are able to live their day-to-day lives...going to work...going to school...going to the post office....going to buy a loaf of bread...is the key.

[LZ_Bayonet]

"I hope we're not going to measure success by the number of liquor stores!"

I think it is a good indicator of success in establishing a secular environment, or at least the potential popularity of a truly secular environment.

IraqtheModel refers to the current fighting not as a "civil war" or a "sectarian war", but instead refers to it as a "war of the sectarians". IraqtheModel also has stated that many Iraqi citizens have realized that, though sectarian elections were a natural response to the Saddam era, it is time to move toward secular representatives. (This movement is also reflected on another thread today regarding support for secular candidates.)

[lapsus calami]

 

 

Hey! It's something in Iraq that should garner wholehearted Democrat support!

 

 

 

 

"I'll have another fifth of the good stuff, yeah, off the top shelf - put it on my tab"

 

 

 

[bukkdems]

I hope we're not going to measure success by the number of liquor stores!

Quite the contrary, consuming alcohol would go along way towards soothing factional violence. It acts a social lubricant between classes, and helps people forget their grievances. IMHO, the strictures against alcohol in Muslim societies is an important barricade to civility.