Elections not the silver bullet

President Bush has made the core of his foreign policy the spread of democracy in the Arab world. In principle of course it is the right thing to do. As a person who is a believer in a foreign policy that is proactive not isolationist I believe democracy is a right to all. However elections are not the end all be all in establishing democracies. Some have argued that military force to remove anti-democratic leaders followed by quick democratic elections will establish permanent democracy. I believe this is a flawed logic. It is a trap administrations in both parties have fallen for in the past. In Vietnam LBJ reinforced South Vietnam with hundreds of thousands of US troops and forced the military regime ruling the nation to hold free elections. So in September 1967 over 70 percent of eligible voters cast ballots in a free elections. In Iraq after the removal of Saddam Hussein free elections took place three times with 70 percent turn out in the election in December of 2005. US pressure also lead to elections in the Palestinian terrorize in 2005. All three of these elections were hailed as a great step forward for establishing stable democracies in each country. All however failed to address the underlying problems in each situation. The new government in Vietnam remained corrupt lost public support and folded when US forces drained of money and blood pulled out and communists overran the South. In Iraq the election returns followed sectarian lines and increased sectarian and overall violence push the country towards civil war. The Palestinian elections resulted in the terrorist/political movement Hamas coming to power resulting in a current crisis that may cause war. As I watch Israeli air strikes on Gaza tonight I wondered do elections ever lead to stability. Other examples in America, Yugoslavia, and Ireland just to name 3 more seem to support my case. Democracies can work but they must be built on a foundation of stable and moderate leadership who support human rights, seek peace and above all are viewed as legitimate by all their people.

Fair Ball?

This weekend Brett Myers a pitcher for the Phillies was arrested for domestic abuse. In Boston on a road trip Myers allegedly hit his wife on the street near the team hotel. His wife paid the 200 dollar bail and he was released he then proceeded to pitch the game the next night. The question is how important is winning? Important enough to pitch an all-star who also is a wife beater (allegedly) only the Phillies can choose.

Comparing Americas Civil War With Iraqs

I've been reading the new book "Team of Rivals" by Doris Kearns Goodwin. It is a biography of Abraham Lincoln and his key advisors before and during the Civil War. I was very intrested in reading about what our own nations descent into Civil War was like now that it appears Iraq might slide into it. A key point in the lead up to the Civil War in the 1850's was the fact that politicans on both sides began to speak as if the sectional conflict had allready begun. Northerners such as Willam Seward, Charles Sumner, and Southerners like John Calhoun, and Jefferson Davis spoke of a coming conflict. In the past while some had feared Civil War politicans always publicly denied it. President Andrew Jackson a southern slave owner threatened to use troops to quiet South Carolina when it even mentioned secession. However as tension mounted politicans on both sides started talking of the "irrepressible conflict" as Seward put it. It showed the public had started to accept the idea of the civil war as a real possibility. Now in Iraq we see the same thing politicans Sunni and Shia including Prime Minister Nuri al-Malki talking of the possiblity of conflict. The violence between both sides continues. Hopefully they can avoid the last spark that will lead to all out war the next few months is key.

Welcome

Welcome to Holland Blog your site for news and analysis on all the days events. Be it sports, politics or foreign affairs. Just to clear things up I’m 21 year old college student from Billings, Montana. My political views are liberal and my major is history. My favorite sports teams are as such Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Rams, LA Lakers, Chicago Blackhawks, Montana Grizzlies, and the Boston College Eagles.