A Republic--If They Can Keep It

As Iraqis prepare to go to the polls for the third time this year, many anti-war types on both the Left and Right ridicule the idea that Arabs can handle democracy. Or even want it.

But how do you explain how every Arab dictatorship, including Saddam's, has sham elections? I mean, if Arabs don't value democracy, why would the regimes even bother with elections? Shouldn't these rulers have just asserted Arabs don't want democracy so we'll rule the way we want?

I think that Arabs will enjoy actual real voting where you have to wait to find out who wins, rather than knowing the results are set by the ruling elite.

After all, in the age of monarchies, people wondered whether Americans of all people could handle democracy. We've had a pretty good run so far. We should all welcome Iraq to the ranks of democracies and work to ensure that more follow in their neighborhood.