How Long Will Iraq's Democracy Last?

The last US combat troops have left Iraq. How long before Islamists take it over, or it discintigrates into three ethnic states etc?

Originally posted by AThousandYoung
The last US combat troops have left Iraq. How long before Islamists take it over, or it discintigrates into three ethnic states etc?

There are still 50,000 US troops in Iraq.

Originally posted by rwingett
There are still 50,000 US troops in Iraq.

When s*** goes down, those troops will not be the trigger pullers. It's 100% Iraqis doing the killing in the name of Iraq from now on.

Originally posted by AThousandYoung
The last US combat troops have left Iraq. How long before Islamists take it over, or it discintigrates into three ethnic states etc?

If only it would disintegrate, then at least something positive could be salvaged from the whole situation - a secular, democratic and (relatively) liberal state of Kurdistan.

Turkey will probably do its best to sabotage any such possibility, though.

Originally posted by AThousandYoung
When s*** goes down, those troops will not be the trigger pullers. It's 100% Iraqis doing the killing in the name of Iraq from now on.

I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.

Originally posted by AThousandYoung
The last US combat troops have left Iraq. How long before Islamists take it over, or it discintigrates into three ethnic states etc?

Iraq is too secular for Islamists to ever take over. It doesn't have much of a "democracy"; elections are held but then a government isn't formed. It looks like far more of a failed state now than Afghanistan was when the Taliban were the predominant faction, but it'll probably just stay a untidy mess rather than disintegrate.

@bbarr - Then what does this mean? Is it nothing but propaganda?

Originally posted by bbarr
I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.

There remains an agreement that requires ALL US troops to leave by December 31, 2011. That agreement is distasteful to the US military, but is overwhelmingly supported by the Iraqi people. It will be interesting to see if the power elites in the two countries can find a way to override the wishes of the people without triggering another mass uprising.

Originally posted by Teinosuke
If only it would disintegrate, then at least something positive could be salvaged from the whole situation - a secular, democratic and (relatively) liberal state of Kurdistan.

Turkey will probably do its best to sabotage any such possibility, though.

dis-integrate. Thx.

Originally posted by AThousandYoung
@bbarr - Then what does this mean? Is it nothing but propaganda?

It's not all propaganda, but Gates himself admits on Meet the Press that U.S. troops will still be involved in security and in covert operations. Moreover, the number of "independent military contractors" in Iraq is set to double, on orders from the Pentagon.

Originally posted by rwingett
There are still 50,000 US troops in Iraq.

Once again, these are not troops!!

To break these "security" personnel down further, there are 150,000 "cooks" (trained to cook to kill), 200.000 "plumbers" (with automatic plungers), and 300,000 "barbers". Just make sure you make it clear who's side your on when you sit down to get your bangs "trimmed". 😛

Originally posted by AThousandYoung
The last US combat troops have left Iraq. How long before Islamists take it over, or it discintigrates into three ethnic states etc?

It's just as well you expanded on the thread title.
There isn't much democracy there to start with.

Originally posted by AThousandYoung
The last US combat troops have left Iraq. How long before Islamists take it over, or it discintigrates into three ethnic states etc?

How long will Iraq's Democracy last, you ask. Does anyone not agree the answer is: It will last only until the last external military forces depart. At that time, one 'strong-man' will userp power and Iraq will revert immediately to their form of totalitarianism, with which they seem to be most comfortable. After all it's what they do.

Edit: Ditto for Afghanistan.

Originally posted by AThousandYoung
The last US combat troops have left Iraq. How long before Islamists take it over, or it discintigrates into three ethnic states etc?

Iraq is a democracy? Surely you jest.