Quote Originally Posted by Dayuhan View Post
I don't see how a theory can help or hurt us... actions based on that theory would be another story, and in that event we'd have to assess the impact of the actions.
Political rhetoric. Not worth assessing.
Are we striving for stability in the Middle East, or democracy? They are not the same thing, and trying to force democratic transitions is hardly going to promote stability... quite the opposite.
In order, No; No; Only a few Ideological oddjobs even tried -- and that only briefly. The object was to send a message that attacks on American interest worldwide emanating from the ME would no longer be tolerated as Afghanistan was a message to the world not to attack American soil; two different things in two very different areas. Needed to do all that without disrupting world oil supply. The 'democracy bit was an afterthought in an attempt to replace the flawed WMD rationale.
The Gulf States are not democratic, but what business of ours is that? ... We've more than enough problems elsewhere...
True and you'll note that we've made no noise to them -- or the Saudis -- and very little to Pakistan about democracy...