Sunday, November 20, 2005

Imposing Democracy

I see where Madeleine Albright, former Secretary of State, says that "imposing democracy is an oxymoron." Surely this statement needs to be qualified. What was it that MacArthur did with Japan after World War II?

"He suspended Japanese laws restricting political, civil and religious liberties. He ordered the release of political prisoners and abolished the secret police. He announced a general election to be held in April 1946, only seven months following the surrender. He also called for the Japanese Diet to pass a new election law to provide for free democratic elections, including, for the first time in the history of Japan, the right of women to vote."

Madame Secretary,
I think your theory's very
Dubious and sketchy.
But as a phrase it's catchy!

(Please note, I do not claim to know whether this democracy thing will fly in Iraq, but I hope it will.)

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