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Iraq Democracy Politics Topic Index

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Can the US military presence in Iraq help create democracy?

In 2007, 4 years after the war started, the US Government authorized the “Surge” – an additional 20,000 troops - which has successfully quelled ethnic violence in the region. Skeptics fear that the ethnic violence will re-erupt if or when the US military leaves.

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Agree

Experts In Politics

George W. Bush United States President 2001-2009

Agree

War critics can no longer credibly argue that we're losing in Iraq.

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19 Mar 2008 Source

Neutral

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The Economist Politics and Business Magazine

Neutral

The country no longer looks in imminent danger of flying apart or falling into everlasting anarchy. In September 2007 this newspaper supported the surge not because we had faith in Iraq but only in the desperate hope that the surge might stop what was already a bloodbath from becoming even worse (see article). The situation now is different: Iraq is still a mess, but something approaching a normal future for its people is beginning to look achievable.

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12 Jun 2008 Source

Disagree

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Barack Obama United States President

Mostly Disagree

We should be more modest in our belief that we can impose democracy on a country through military force. In the past, it has been movements for freedom from within tyrannical regimes that have led to flourishing democracies; movements that continue today.

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20 Nov 2006 Source

Daniel Serwer Vice President, U.S. Institute of Peace

Sam Parker Officer, U.S. Institute of Peace

Mostly Disagree

There is no visible end to the U.S. commitment required to prevent Iraq from spinning out of control and threatening a widening war in the region.

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01 Apr 2008 Source

Ambiguous or Flip-Flop

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John McCain U.S. Senator, Republican

Mostly Agree

[I hope that if I'm president, that] in 2013 the Iraq War has been won, Iraq is a functioning democracy, violence is much reduced, and America has welcomed home most of the servicemen and women who have sacrificed terribly so that America might be secure. The United States maintains a military presence in Iraq, but a much smaller one that does not play a direct combat role.

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15 May 2008 Source

John McCain U.S. Senator, Republican

Neutral

There are the first glimmers of progress under General Petraeus' political-military strategy. While these glimmers are no guarantee of success, and though they come early in the implementation of the new strategy, I believe they are cause for very cautious optimism.

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11 Apr 2007 Source

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0 Points the27th 09 May 2010 Stance on Question: Mostly Disagree

No. There's no imposing freedom by the sword. I hope they become democratic, but it will be their doing, not ours.

0 Points OmnipotentRabbit 10 Apr 2010 Stance on Question: Disagree

Imposing democracy in Iraq is pointless in the first place, and it is doubtful that imposing "freedom" by military force will result in anything less than strengthening the already damaging views the country takes. If anything, the US government should allow the people of Iraq to sort it out for themselves, much like they are trying in Iran to defeat the Ayatollah democratically.

Can the US military presence in Iraq help create democracy?

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