Does it Matter?

Over at The Daily Demarche, Dr. D. is commenting on the "if you are not part of the solution..." mantra of the Viet Nam war and how it relates today to Iraq.

Dr. D also makes mention of some writings of Juan Cole (professor of modern Middle Eastern and North African studies at the University of Michigan). Dr. D. posts Professor Cole's question:

What if the newly elected regimes are friendly to states and groups that Washington considers enemies? What if the spread of democracy through the region empowers elements that don't share American values and goals?

The good Dr. is asking for comments to this question. Go visit Dr. D. at The Daily Demarche and weigh-in on the subject.

HeavyHanded weighed-in already with his 2 cents worth and said:

Dr. D. -
I understand your question and concern and in fact share the concern. That being said, my rhetorical question would be: But, so what? If not democracy, then what? I see alliances as temporary anyway; some lasting longer than others, certainly. But as a previous poster commented, every country is going to do what they think needs to be done, i.e. what's in their best interest, regardless of the kind of government they have.

There are no guarantees, of course. And if Iraq, Afghanistan or other ME countries turn out to be true "democracies" and have legitimate elections, I'll take my chances on trying to interact politically and have a chance (at least to some degree) of having foreign policy discourse than trying deal with theocracies that preach hate.