I agree with this. One thing that has been interesting for me to see in CGSC is the degree to which we mirror image... even folks who have just come from working wonders COIN-wise in foreign cultures still have a hard time seeing things outside the "American" perspective- especially strategically.
Definitely agree with this... Karzai being one good example, the current Iraqi political structure being another, and Pakistan being a potential third.
The problem is, how do you prevent the replacement from being worse than the status quo?
If you look at the trajectory of democratization and economic progress, the folks who developed economically first and politically second did better than those who tried the other route. South Korea is a great example of this... I think the economic part is probably the most important piece- you gain so much traction if people's lives are better.
Is there a middle ground, where you can encourage change but not chaos? Seems like a tough balance. I think our current policies may be too hypocritical to work - it's great to be for liberty but that kind of seems false when you support dictatorships.
I guess the other question is will anti-Americanism fade if people's economic and political conditions improve?
V/R,
Cliff
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