Watcher, arguably a comparison could be made between some sheiks and some politicians but for a conparrison with tribal society as a whole I would look to gangs, where first loyalty is to the group and the group dominates most or all aspects of life. It is an imperfect comparison but closer than anything else I can think of in the west. I am sure that Mark can do a much better job than I can with this.

RA,

I did not say that creating a democracy in Iraq was unrealistic, only that the timelines that some people expected were unrealistic. In any case, WE will not create a democracy in Iraq. Only the Iraqis can do that (and maybe Chuck Norris, but he's busy right now). We are setting the conditions for them to do just that but it will take time and I doubt it will look like a western democracy in any case. Paying off the sheiks (if you choose to call it that) is nothing more than a means to an end. Create security so that democracy or its Iraqi equivalent, has a chance to take root.

SFC W