# The Democratic Domino Theory Revisited **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 2, 2005, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-domino-theory-revisited/292648 "2005-03-02T21:00:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2005, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-domino-theory-revisited/292648/1 "2005-03-02T21:00:47Z")
Despite the revisionist insistience of some that “it was WMD, period,” many of those who supported US intervention did so under the rationale that overthrowing Saddam and replacing him with a democracy would destabilise other nations in the region … and that such destabilisation would be a good thing, given the autocratic status quo. This was discussed on the boards in numerous threads, including[this one](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=235228&page=1&pp=50), in which **PatriotX** (nee SimonX) invited all comers to defend the Bush administration’s idea of Spreading democracy throughout the Middle East. In that thread, I suggested that > [@](#): > > Replacing the Iraqi regime creates the possibility for successful, modernized, liberal democratic Arab state. If the Iraqis can create for themselves (with US help) a social/political/economic situation that is obviously superior to that in other Arab nations, it will act as a dramatic spur to reformist sentiments in those nations, disproving notions that Arabs cannot govern themselves, that Islam is incompatible with democracy, or that all of the Arabs world’s problems are attributable to outsiders (America and/or Israel). Internal pressure will mount for reform in Arab nations; hopefully this will come peacefully, though violent revoltions cannot be ruled out. This was not my own idea by any means; rather it was my synopsis of the “Neo-con agenda” as I understood and supported it. This plan was of course roundly mocked on these boards, in numerous threads, by numerous people; mostly the reliable leftist/anti-Bush club, but also some conservatives and libertarians. Well. as [Mark Steyn](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml;sessionid=NP5J5NRUH3NELQFIQMGCM54AVCBQUJVC?xml=/opinion/2005/03/01/do0102.xml&sSheet=/opinion/2005/03/01/ixopinion.html) puts it “In the space of a month, the Iraq election has become the prism through which all other events in the region are seen.” [Iraqis march in the street, chanting “No to Wahhabism”](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050301/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq&cid=540&ncid=1480) [Lebanon](http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20050228090009990003) [Egypt](http://www.loyolaphoenix.com/news/2005/03/02/Nationworld/Mubarak.To.Permit.Opposition.In.Election-881320.shtml) [Syria](http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=12851) [and Palestinians protesting\*\* against\*\* the death of Israelis](http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2005-02-26-palestinians-angry_x.htm) Of course it’s still soon, and of course things could still take a turn for the worse. And of course there are those who would argue that no matter if infinite good were to come of it, military action without UN approval is always a bad thing, because procedure is more important than performance. That’s a logically defensible (if foolish) position, but it’s outside the scope of this thread. And this is certainly not an “I told you so” thread; I was never quite an enthusiasticsupporter of the war, as the thread linked above indicates. But [some who have been anti-Bush](http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/01/opinion/01tue1.html?ex=1267419600&en=d5d81b07fecc9631&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland) are already seeing a real change here. Have the events of this week made anyone reconsider the viability of the Domino Theory? Does anyone seriously want to argue that all of this would have happened without Iraq, or (far more plausibly) that these are not the harbingers of real reform? ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2005, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-domino-theory-revisited/292648/2 "2005-03-02T21:13:19Z")
While positive, I don’t think we can make any real judgements for another year or two, minimum. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2005, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-domino-theory-revisited/292648/3 "2005-03-02T21:38:21Z")
> [@furt](#): > > Have the events of this week made anyone reconsider the viability of the Domino Theory? Does anyone seriously want to argue that all of this would have happened without Iraq, or (far more plausibly) that these are not the harbingers of real reform? Its still too early to tell. If it all works out the way you say I’ll be the first to admit I was wrong. However, at this time I still think the invasion of Iraq was a mistake. My own opinion is that Afghanistan already had the effect of a wake up call to the ME and others, and that the US would have been better served concentrating our resources and efforts there. If Iran, who I always saw as a real and serious threat had they tried to play the games they have played the US would be in a much stronger position (militarily and from an international diplomacy perspective) to do something about it…and Iran has at least as much potential as Iraq to become a ‘model’ nation (as opposed to poor Afghanistan without any real resources or infrastructure). The US would be in a much more flexable strategic position right now to deal with Iran, Syria or even North Korea from strength (again, military, economic AND political strength) if we had not invaded Iraq when and how we did…or if we had limited ourselfs to simply bombing Saddam’s infrastructure and hammering any military facilities we could from a distance if we needed to do anything at all. Iraq was contained IMO, and while I DO think the Iraqi people will be much better off in the long run (hell, even with the insurgency I think they are better off today than they were during Saddam’s reign), and I realize that continued sanctions or bombing raids by the US would have meant more hardship for the Iraqi people, I don’t see why the US had to do what it did there…I think it hurt us more than it helped us. Time will tell I suppose, and I agree that, even though I think it was a mistake, its POSSIBLE that the invasion of Iraq might have a profound effect on the region…and for the better too. -XT ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2005, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-domino-theory-revisited/292648/4 "2005-03-02T21:42:57Z")
I’m wondering if **furt** has a videotape of Colin Powell’s UN presentation where he _didn’t_ go on for an hour about WMDs, mobile chemical plants, and remote-controlled anthrax-spraying drones. The only “revisionist insistence” I see so far is in the OP. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2005, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-domino-theory-revisited/292648/5 "2005-03-02T21:45:05Z")
Gotta start with a quibble. A small matter, but that’s the trouble with quibbles… The “domino theory” can be closely related to entropy: the domino’s fall down. I don’t know any variety of that theory that proposes the fallen dominos suddenly standing up. Then, of course, there’s a couple of problems with your phrasing. This gem, for instance… > [@](#): > > …there are those who would argue that no matter if infinite good were to come of it, military action without UN approval is always a bad thing, because procedure is more important than performance… I don’t know of anyone, offhand, for whom this was the crucial issue as regards Iraq. I suppose there are such, but if that isn’t the central argument, why are you bringing it up? Of course, you do touch upon the Bushiviks serious problem with communicating their concerns. We are now given to understand that a campaign to free the ME people from authoritarianism was the _real_ reason for the Iraqi invasion. If only they had said so plainly, rather than going on and on about “mushroom clouds”, and “vast stockpiles”. So few of us are sophisticated enough to understand that these phrases refer explicitly to a campaign for democracy. In our ignorance, we thought they were talking about weapons. Silly us! And how does this splendid campaign for freedom impact upon our allies? Especially our stalwart and true-blue buddy Pakistan. Of all the military dictatorships in the world, they stand in the very front rank of those committed to democracy and freedom for everybody else. Just ahead of Uzbekistan. And wasn’t there a democratic revolution in the ME just a while ago? Where they overthrew an autocratic dictator, and rushed headlong into free elections? How did that go, now that we’re on the subject? And why would we be inclined to credit such a democratic movement to GeeDubya? Unintended consequences are just that, nothing more. If I fling a bowling ball from my apartment window and it lands on the head of a fleeing mugger, I ain’t Batman. And if a man playing five card draw bets his home, his wife, his children and one of his kidneys that he can draw three cards to a straight flush, and he does so, he is no less a fool. Perhaps that should be the next Pubbie campaign slogan: God must love us, 'cause even when we totally fuck it up, we come out smelling like a rose. And finally, the issue of relative value. I’d be pleased to have free elections in Iraq, or Syria, or even Kuwait (say, how’s that bastion of freedom and democracy coming along since we saved their bacon? Advancing into freedom, are they?..). I’d be willing to donate $100. Maybe do Meatless Fridays for a year. Some sort of sacrifice commensurate with the cause. But not my son. Nor yours. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2005, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-domino-theory-revisited/292648/6 "2005-03-02T21:52:44Z")
I agree with pretty much everything xtisme wrote, except that I was a supporter for the Iraq invasion when it occurred because I believed the claims that Iraq had WMD’s and felt that created a need for military action. I also think it’s still to early to predict how things will turn out in Iraq. There are hopeful signs like the relative success of the elections and growing international support. But there are also continuing causes for concern; the insurgency is increasing not going away, the economy is still a basketcase, Iranian influence is growing, etc. What the situation needs now is patience, compromise, tolerance, flexibility, and a depth of knowledge. Unfortunately, these are not virtues I associate with our present administration. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2005, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-domino-theory-revisited/292648/7 "2005-03-02T22:13:25Z")
:dubious: **furt,** I’m sure you know very well that correlation is not causation and _post hoc_ is not evidence of _propter hoc._ What **causal connection** do you see between the Iraq War and pro-democracy developments in other ME countries? What proof is there that these things would not be happening if Hussein still ruled Iraq? ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2005, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-domino-theory-revisited/292648/8 "2005-03-02T22:21:21Z")
Why not just ask noted anti-American Walid Jumblatt? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2005, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-domino-theory-revisited/292648/9 "2005-03-02T22:31:34Z")
The part in ellipses is “I was cynical about Iraq. But when I saw the Iraqi people voting three weeks ago, 8 million of them, it was the start of a new Arab world.” ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2005, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-domino-theory-revisited/292648/10 "2005-03-02T22:49:34Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > I don’t know of anyone, offhand, for whom this was the crucial issue as regards Iraq. I suppose there are such, but if that isn’t the central argument, why are you bringing it up? Poppycock. Thousands of hamsters have been killed by arguments that even if the results were objectively good (e.g. removing SH), US intervention was wrong on it’s face because it was not duly authorized or “legal.” IOW, some have said that American Unilateralism, whatever short-term good it might do, would in the long run be a undermine a peaceful world order. Obviously, this was not everyone’s position who opposed the war; but I did not say it was. If the shoe doesn’t fit … ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2005, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-domino-theory-revisited/292648/11 "2005-03-02T22:55:29Z")
> [@Captain Amazing](#): > > The part in ellipses is “I was cynical about Iraq. But when I saw the Iraqi people voting three weeks ago, 8 million of them, it was the start of a new Arab world.” Aw, shit. Thanks, **Captain**. I left that out to keep the sig to four lines and totally forgot I redacted the part most relevant to this discussion. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2005, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-domino-theory-revisited/292648/12 "2005-03-02T23:15:47Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > I’m wondering if **furt** has a videotape of Colin Powell’s UN presentation where he _didn’t_ go on for an hour about WMDs, mobile chemical plants, and remote-controlled anthrax-spraying drones. Which relates how, exactly? As has been discussed on these boards many times, the WMD argument was picked for political salability, and it did turn out to have been a huge error. But anyone who was paying attention knew all along that there was a much larger agenda at work. [ > [@](#): > > The world has a clear interest in the spread of democratic values, because stable and free nations do not breed the ideologies of murder. They encourage the peaceful pursuit of a better life. And there are hopeful signs of a desire for freedom in the Middle East. Arab intellectuals have called on Arab governments to address the “freedom gap” so their peoples can fully share in the progress of our times. Leaders in the region speak of a new Arab charter that champions internal reform, greater politics participation, economic openness, and free trade. And from Morocco to Bahrain and beyond, nations are taking genuine steps toward politics reform. A new regime in Iraq would serve as a dramatic and inspiring example of freedom for other nations in the region. ]([http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/02/20030226-11.html](http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/02/20030226-11.html)) In five minute’s looking, here’s a prewar[cite](http://denbeste.nu/cd_log_entries/2003/02/Notwhyweredoingit.shtml) or [two](http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2003/0304.marshall.html) from both sides of the fence. And note that the Times acknowledged that “The Bush administration is entitled to claim a healthy share of the credit for many of these advances. It boldly proclaimed the cause of Middle East democracy at a time when few in the West thought it had any realistic chance.” ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2005, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-domino-theory-revisited/292648/13 "2005-03-02T23:24:57Z")
You know, if democracy breaks out and becomes pandemic in the Middle East, I couldn’t be happier. And if some foresighted individuals like the OP supported the Iraq War because they foresaw it leading to widespread democracy, more power to them. (Under other circumstances, I’d ask for a cite, to prevent a postdated claim to prophetic knowledge, but I’ll pass on that.) But the key point here is that I am a citizen of a country whose political leaders are accountable to the electorate, and obliged to tell them as much of the truth as is consonant with national security. I am not claiming that “the people have the right to know” information that could only have been gained by a deep-cover agent in Teheran or Pyongyang, whose cover would be blown by it. I am claiming that what is told the American people should be the truth, as much as is safe to tell at a given time. The government represented that the Hussein regime had ties to Al-Qaeda, which have been conspicuously absent since the war. Then they represented that we were endangered by substantial stockpiles of WMDs, of which extremely minimal amounts have been seen. If stable democracies result from our incursion, that is wonderful. But, save for **furt** and a few other foresighted people like him, that was not the reason given for going to war. In fact, it was not **any** of the primary reasons given over the course of time. I don’t like a government that plays Three Card Monte with the truth (guess which cup the **real** reason is under; watch carefully as I move them around!). And while we’re on the subject, Lebanon **had** a stable democratic government including protections for ethnic minorities. Eisenhower sent in the Marines to protect it. It’s purely amazing that Mr. Bush is going to “give them democracy” when one of his Republican predecessors was defending the democracy they had. “The American people have all the historical awareness of tree shrews.” – Cecil Adams ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2005, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-domino-theory-revisited/292648/14 "2005-03-02T23:28:11Z")
**furt,** you still haven’t described, let alone proven, any causal connection between the Iraq War and the resignation of the Lebanese government, Mubarak’s recent announcement, etc. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2005, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-domino-theory-revisited/292648/15 "2005-03-02T23:30:39Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > :dubious: **furt,** I’m sure you know very well that correlation is not causation and _post hoc_ is not evidence of _propter hoc._ What **causal connection** do you see between the Iraq War and pro-democracy developments in other ME countries? What proof is there that these things would not be happening if Hussein still ruled Iraq? What do you want, empirical quantification? This ain’t a lab. Do you, in fact, want to argue that all of these things would have happened anyway? I can’t prove that Saddam wouldn’t have suddenly spent all his money on puppies for children. But Occam’s Razor is on the side of “Gee, have there been any major developments in the last year or two that might have caused this sudden groundswell of support for democracy?” ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2005, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-domino-theory-revisited/292648/16 "2005-03-02T23:40:10Z")
> [@furt](#): > > But Occam’s Razor is on the side of “Gee, have there been any major developments in the last year or two that might have caused this sudden groundswell of support for democracy?” No, **furt,** Occam’s Razor is on the side of rejecting any causal connection between these events unless something beyond mere coincidence in time is demonstrated. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2005, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-domino-theory-revisited/292648/17 "2005-03-02T23:54:50Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > (Under other circumstances, I’d ask for a cite, to prevent a postdated claim to prophetic knowledge, but I’ll pass on that.) I swear, I don’t think anyone bothers to read anymore. I did NOT claim prophetic foreknowlege: I specifically pointed out that I was only a somewhat reluctant supporter of the war. As far as cites, did you bother to read the January 2004 thread I linked to in the OP (as well as the second thread which it led to), in which I explained, at great length, that this was exactly the overall plan as I had come to understand it? > [@](#): > > If stable democracies result from our incursion, that is wonderful. But, save for **furt** and a few other foresighted people like him, that was not the reason given for going to war. In fact, it was not **any** of the primary reasons given over the course of time. I respectfully submit that if you had been bothering to read a few more sources that didn’t already accord with what you already believed, you would have understood that this wasn’t the truth. There were many voices, Thomas Freidman and Christopher Hitchens being two that come to mind, who were making the case for war on grounds completely seperate from WMD. [Here’s one column](http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/06/04/nyt.friedman/): “Helping to build a decent Iraq as a model for others — and solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict — are the necessary steps for defusing the ideas of mass destruction, which are what really threaten us.” > [@](#): > > It’s purely amazing that Mr. Bush is going to “give them democracy” when one of his Republican predecessors was defending the democracy they had. I assume that’s your own scarecrow you’re quoting there? There’s a big difference between “give them democracy,” and “intimidate the dictators, thus emboldening the people to take back their own nations” which would have been a far more accurate statement of US policy. But I understand that that isn’t so easily dismissed. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-domino-theory-revisited/292648/18 "2005-03-03T00:05:13Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > And why would we be inclined to credit such a democratic movement to GeeDubya? Unintended consequences are just that, nothing more… Sure thing. You’ve been dismissing the notion of change in the ME since day one of Operation Iraqi Freedom (not ‘Operation Iraqi WMD and WMD only’, **rjung** , as your one-trick self will note), and now that your damned lying eyes are trying to convince you otherwise, now it’s just a ‘unintended consequence’, huh? The left’s capability for self-delusion is simply amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Age\_Quod\_Agis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d07c76/32.png) [@Age\_Quod\_Agis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Age_Quod_Agis)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-domino-theory-revisited/292648/19 "2005-03-03T00:14:27Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > No, **furt,** Occam’s Razor is on the side of rejecting any causal connection between these events unless something beyond mere coincidence in time is demonstrated. And what about the statements of Middle Easterners and the press in the Middle East that the recent actions were inspired at least in part by the elections in Iraq _that have already been given in this thread_? On what basis do you reject those? > [@elucidator](#): > > We are now given to understand that a campaign to free the ME people from authoritarianism was the real reason for the Iraqi invasion. If only they had said so plainly, rather than going on and on about “mushroom clouds”, and “vast stockpiles”. So few of us are sophisticated enough to understand that these phrases refer explicitly to a campaign for democracy. In our ignorance, we thought they were talking about weapons. Silly us! Or you could have listened for what Bush actually said. [To the UN](http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/09/20020912-1.html) (emphasis added): > [@](#): > > If all these steps are taken, it will signal a new openness and accountability in Iraq. And it could open the prospect of the United Nations helping to build a government that represents all Iraqis – a government based on respect for human rights, economic liberty, and internationally supervised elections. > > The United States has no quarrel with the Iraqi people; they’ve suffered too long in silent captivity. Liberty for the Iraqi people is a great moral cause, and a great strategic goal. The people of Iraq deserve it; the security of all nations requires it. **Free societies do not intimidate through cruelty and conquest, and open societies do not threaten the world with mass murder.** The United States supports political and economic liberty in a unified Iraq. [On the eve of battle:](http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030317-7.html) > [@](#): > > Many Iraqis can hear me tonight in a translated radio broadcast, and I have a message for them. If we must begin a military campaign, it will be directed against the lawless men who rule your country and not against you. As our coalition takes away their power, we will deliver the food and medicine you need. We will tear down the apparatus of terror and we will help you to build a new Iraq that is prosperous and free. In a free Iraq, there will be no more wars of aggression against your neighbors, no more poison factories, no more executions of dissidents, no more torture chambers and rape rooms. The tyrant will soon be gone. The day of your liberation is near. [In a press conference:](http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030316-3.html) > [@](#): > > Action to remove the threat from Iraq would also allow the Iraqi people to build a better future for their society. And Iraq’s liberation would be the beginning, not the end, of our commitment to its people. We will supply humanitarian relief, bring economic sanctions to a swift close, and work for the long-term recovery of Iraq’s economy. We’ll make sure that Iraq’s natural resources are used for the benefit of their owners, the Iraqi people. > > Iraq has the potential to be a great nation. Iraq’s people are skilled and educated. We’ll push as quickly as possible for an Iraqi interim authority to draw upon the talents of Iraq’s people to rebuild their nation. We’re committed to the goal of a unified Iraq, with democratic institutions of which members of all ethnic and religious groups are treated with dignity and respect. Do I need to go on, or can we agree that you’re focusing a little too hard on the WMD and not enough on what Bush actually said? ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-domino-theory-revisited/292648/20 "2005-03-03T00:15:34Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > No, **furt,** Occam’s Razor is on the side of rejecting any causal connection between these events unless something beyond mere coincidence in time is demonstrated. So to be clear: is it your position that movements toward democracy in Lebanon, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar, all of which have taken place in last month or two all likely would have happened anyway? How did Egyptian state TV put it? Something like “a step forward in Egypt’s 7,000 year old march to democracy?” Oh, yeah, wheels of inevitability there. Mind you; I’m not saying that it’s necessarily the ONLY reason … but are you claiming that it’s not A reason? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democratic-domino-theory-revisited/292648.md?page=2)