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	Name:	MartiniMan -
	Subject:	Cut and Run
	Date:	11/6/2009 4:45:22 PM

MAJ and Hound. I know the conventional wisdom is the concept of a representative republic is impossible for a country like Afghanistan. I am struck by that view given the original elections and even the recent, albeit defective elections. There seemed to be a lot of enthusiasm despite the significant danger voting represented. There appears to me at least a genuine desire on the part of the people to have a say in their federal government.

While I am not suggesting they are the same I am wondering if you look at the history of Japan prior to WWII it was a monarchy and post WWII has functioned as a democratic country. In your view is it totally beyond the realm of possible that at some point Afghanistan could have a reasonably functioning democracy?

If you look back historically the prognostications of people not being able to accept or operate as a democracy has been proven wrong. Maybe Islam totally precludes it but it seems to be working better in Iraq (albeit with a lot of support from us). I am just not so pessimistic that these people can't desire freedom because it is innate to us and under the right circumstances could develop. Why are you so pessimistic? And please don't tell me "They've been fighting for a thousand years, etc." Representative republics are relatively new to most of the world that for thousands of years operated as monarchies, dictatorships, etc. If they can change why can't the Middle East?