Will Democracy Work in the Middle East? - Larry Diamond

[NganaJHone]

I am very happy to see the vidoe after you give this Larry Diamond discusses the Bush Administration's approach to democracy promotion in the Middle East, and examines barriers to further democratic reforms in the region

[Melehete]

I Love The Video It Can Increase My Knowledge Bush Administration's approach to democracy promotion in the Middle East, and examines barriers to further democratic reforms in the region.

[bebeheuy]

Steady I Really Like This Video Stanford political science professor Larry Diamond discusses the Bush Administration's approach to democracy promotion

[AntoMelta]

Good, I like that you share this video, I wish success always discusses the Bush Administration's approach to democracy promotion in the Middle East, and examines barriers to further democratic reforms in the region.

[willamricard]

Nice Video That You Share , So Very Nice Thanks You Will Democracy Work in the Middle East Larry Diamond

[imegatrone]

I Really Like The Video From Your Will Democracy Work in the Middle East? Larry Diamond

[semo2010]

remind me ...

Whats wrong with Islam again ? You want arabs to ditch their beloved religion ? Remember they owned the world before the renaissance that made europe "including the US which is an extension of Europe" own the world today.

[rahl182]

@semo2010 its not that there's something wrong with Islam(its not that different from Christianity lets face it) like you said "they owned the world before the renaissance" and here lies the problem because after the renaissance, the Ottomans kept everyone in this cultural stranglehold even as they began to decline. Arabs had practically no time to recover from that, as they were dominated by western cultures until now. So many of their practices include attitudes one might find in the Middle

[rahl182]

@semo2010 Ages. However, their weapons technology has vastly improved. The Middle Easterners are killing each other, and everyone else based on wars that took place over a thousand ears ago. This tradition of murder and theocracy is something you'd see in an institution such as the RCC, and is interestingly enough kept alive by certain parts of the Quran. Religious fundamentalism(craziness) is bad no matter where it comes from, i criticize fools like Terry Jones as much as Osama Bin Ladin.

[semo2010]

@rahl182 If you think the Quran encourages killing each other then you know nothing about the Quran. I read it, you haven't.

[PersoAryanism]

Iran ...had... a democracy.

Until 1953 when America decided to overthrow it.

[1sthighkick]

This dude is one of the few Americans who have a good understanding of the Middle East. 

[sisque16]

This guy is a joke, When he spoke to us at San Jose State, Diamond argued that the war in Iraq was neccessary and just. Lets send his kids over there to fight the war he didn't want to fight, send his kids from Atherton to every neo con war.

[Jabbowhaa]

@sisque16

Numerous fallacies within your statement.

Just because somebody dissents from your point of view does not making them "a joke".

In 2004, Diamond was a senior adviser on governance to the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq. So yes, he knows more about it than you will ever learn or want to know.

He's also a professor at Stanford University, one of the most prestigious college campuses in the world.

You sound like an asinine fool when you state accuse him of such things.

[sisque16]

@Jabbowhaa Any professor that advocates invasion of another soverign country is advocating violating the 3rd & 4th Geneva convention. Professor Diamond was reluctant to read the National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) in which showed no evidence of WMD's and only illustrated chemical weapons sold to Hussein by the US. Moreover, advocating democracy through intervention for oil resources which Brezezinski asserts "gives it indirect but political leverage on the European and Asian economies.."

[Jabbowhaa]

@sisque16

Thanks for replying to the fallacies located within your initial argument, you sound extremely confident when you address why people who disagree with you are "joke[s]".

A state is to have deemed to have lost its independence when it does one of four things, under international law:

1. Invade and annex neighboring states or territories.

2. Violate the NPT.

3. Violate the Genocide Convention, of which the US is signatory.

4. Giving direct aid and hospitality to int'l terrorists.

[sisque16]

@Jabbowhaa According to this logic, The US would also be subject to violation. Christopher Hitchens already has make this arguement versus' George Galloway in a debate during the Iraq war. This is no arguement for invasion.

[sisque16]

@sisque16 Only the UN can allows invasion under Security Council or under Article 51 which states a nation can use force if and only if it is for "self-defense"is "instant, overwhelming, leaving no choice of means, no moment for deliberation." (Daniel Webser) Losing a soverign state and invading one are clearly two different things that you seem to know nothing about.

[Jabbowhaa]

@sisque16

Hussein's regime was a multiple offender of all FOUR of these headings.

In 1999, under Clinton, the "Iraq Liberation Act" was passed unanimously in the United States Senate an 360-38 in the House. The significance? We were going to have to confront Saddam sooner or later - and why should he, likewise all the times in the past, pick and choose when we should invade?

Where's your proof that we invaded Iraq for oil? Your claims are unfounded and your contentions just as weak.

[sisque16]

@Jabbowhaa "Democracy is acceptable if and only if it is consistent with strategic and economic interest." (Carothers) Examples of this are: Nicaragua and particularly Iraq, George Kennan post-WWII planner asserts control of the resources of the Gulf Region would give US "veto power" over its industrial rivals. Moreover, advocating democracy through intervention for oil resources which Brezezinski asserts "gives it indirect but political leverage on the European and Asian economies.."

[Jabbowhaa]

@sisque16

Your arguments are based on the premise that the United States has intervened in Iraq for oil.

You've still yet to prove that the United States is really there for oil. Therefore, your arguments do not hold much, if any, credibility.

"This is no arguement for invasion."

- Again, no substantive evidence or arguments made. I can easily say that the world is flat. Because I say so. State something that will convince me that you are correct.

[sisque16]

@Jabbowhaa Iraq has the 2nd largest oil reserve in the world, since 1945 post WWII the state department documented that the Gulf regions oil is " a stupendous source of strategic power and one of the greatest material prizes in the world."  Ariel Cohen, of the neo-conservative Heritage Foundation, told Newsnight that an opportunity had been missed to privatise Iraq's oil fields. (BBC article 2005) There is overwhelming evidence that the Iraq war was for oil, not WMD's. Al-qaeda connection, etc.

[Jabbowhaa]

@sisque16

You're still stating unrelated facts and presenting them as evidence that support your claims. "overwhelming evidence"? Not so. You fail to state anything more than facts that have nothing to do with one another.

Never did I. Saddam bought his chemical WMD's from the United States. We placed him in power. Again, what's your practical alternative? Sit back and do nothing? We should berate those responsible, yes. But we should also be practical about it also.

[sisque16]

@Jabbowhaa Practical is non-intevention. The reasons by the Bush administrations were also to promote democracy through intervention, name me one time in Ira's long history has a nation occupied and controlled that territory? Moreover, there are many nations that have committed worst atrocities than Iraq,yet we do nothing.

[sisque16]

@Jabbowhaa "Cheney is still paid by Pentagon contractor: Bush deputy gets up to $1m from firm with Iraq oil deal" (The Guardian 2003) "THE BUSH-CHENEY OIL" WAR (American Press 2007) "Blood and oil: How the West will profit from Iraq's most precious commodity" (The Independent, 2007) "Iraq’s Insurgency Runs on Stolen Oil Profits" (New York Times, 2008) "Iraq War Profits:: Oil Companies Secure Contracts" (Veteransforcommonsense.2009) OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE OR A FIGMENT OF YOUR IMAGINATION?

[sisque16]

@Jabbowhaa If you think the Iraq war was to "promote democracy," WMD's, and Al-qaeda connections you have no evidence to assert such a claim. Moreover, the Bush Administration as early as this past weekend said there were no weapons of Mass destruction. I cannot with a clear conscious understand why you would defend this policy?

[sisque16]

@Jabbowhaa Arguing for Invasion of another country for oil resources at the expense of American lives is immoral, moreover if you are advocating for this, then you are equating life with a commodity. Any "prestigious" professor now knows that experience in foreign policy can and will get you in Iraq and a hard place along with 2-4 trillion in debt and among the thousands of civilian deaths.

[Jabbowhaa]

@sisque16

Ah, I see you've just posted again.

Well, had we not invaded, the United States would have lost face in the international community as giving "slaps on the wrist" and Saddam would have been able to develop his WMD program, no doubt.

Do you know about the number and degree of atrocities he has committed? Do you know the number of Kurds that have been ruthlessly and collectively murdered? It doesn't seem you grasp how nefarious this man was.

[sisque16]

@Jabbowhaa Are you talking about the US supplied chemical weapons such as sarin and mustard gas that we finance to Hussein during that war as noted in the NIE? Seems to me you are placing a smoke screen to your own face at your expense.

[Jabbowhaa]

@sisque16

If the United States placed Hussein in power and gave him chemical weapons of mass destruction, then should that not re-double the U.S.' responsibility to intervene? Would YOU have not complained about the hundreds of thousands killed by Hussein had we not intervened?

You seem to be picking and choosing from my contentions. If you don't take mine seriously, I'm afraid I will have to do the same for yours.

[sisque16]

@Jabbowhaa Chemical weapons and Enriched Plutonium (WMD's) are completely seperate issues be careful not to conflate the two. Only the UN can intervene by the Security Council or as stated previously in Article 51 of Geneva. The US has no obligation to intervene legally, as John Quincy Adams asserts the US "[does] not abroad, in search of monsters to destroy.

She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all. She is the champion and vindicator only of her own."

[Jabbowhaa]

@sisque16

No, the four headings under international law which I've stated are reasons why a state is to have lost its independence. How many times must I state this?

Also, if you don't input effort into your arguments, why should I? Message me if you'd like to further this conversation.

[sisque16]

@Jabbowhaa I'm not disputing loss of soveriegny, I am arguing that it is not a legal reason to invade and occupy another country.

[sisque16]

@sisque16 You clearly have not read NIE, Downing Street Memo, read the Geneva Convention, Colin Powell's Testimony of WMD's, studied Intelligence or Terrorism. I would suggest you read someone smarter than Professor Diamond, such as Chomsky, Hitchens, Burns, Huntington, Kristol, Krauthammer, Fukiyama, Buckley, etc. Read up and I'll debate you on this topic any time.

[Jabbowhaa]

@sisque16

FYI, I have read most of the people you've named above.

Again, MESSAGE me. Copy & paste. It isn't that difficult is it? Messaging is a much more convenient method than arguing via comments.

[sisque16]

@Jabbowhaa Arguing with an ideologue whom refuses to read the articles below or claims to have read some notable intectuals whom most if not all note the Iraq invasion was for oil is you delusion at your expense. Moreover, its unfortunate that people like yourself do not hold to moral truism.

[Jabbowhaa]

@sisque16

Just because somebody dissents from your point of view does not make them inferior to you. Sadly, this seems to be the case for you. I was looking forward to having a discussion with you, perhaps persuading each other in one way or another.

Your self-righteousness and ego are quite vexatious and contradictory.

This is the last time we will communicate, I guess. You've proved nothing other than that you can't comprehend anything more than your own ego.

Goodbye.

[sisque16]

@Jabbowhaa Everyone has a right to their opinion, not everyone has a right to their own facts. Despite the references and articles I cited among with numerous scholarly articles and intellectuals, your attempt at a cheap slur displays your lack of knowledge of the subject matter and perhaps ignorance reading material. This is the difference between someone whom has a Master's degree in Criminal Justice and studied terrorism and intelligence and one who has not.

[ThaPremiere1]

@Jabbowhaa Haha you got ownedddd

[Jabbowhaa]

@ThaPremiere1

Oh man, I got "ownedddd" on a YouTube video (debatable). The conversation was going nowhere, as sisque16 couldn't see that I concurred with him on the fact that the Bush administration's handling of the war was extremely incompetent. Seems like you didn't either.

[soothuglifesmile]

What a scholar. That's all that needs to be said.

[Pungopingu]

This was added on june 26, yet it has only got about 620 Views. Too bad because its a great video.

[axj9213]

He is a very bright individual!

[ihateneocons]

people don't get it. to islamists, democracy is a man-made law, not the rule of good and thats why SOME reject it.

[okee7]

So true how can any nation adopt democracy or its people accept this change overnight. Especially when the United States now wants to break the status quo which served it so well during the cold war. Most regimes in the middle east and asia were supported and funded; no questions were asked then about freedom or democracy. So why is the question of a particular religion now coming up.

[befranklintoo]

Democracy is just a word to fool the mass's an start wars.

free elections & voting systems are not the definition of democracy.

[Imhornydadcomeinside]

@befranklintoo Even if democracy has major flaws I would rather live in a democracy than a dictatorhip, whatever you say.

[barneyhoot]

Democracy doesn't work in nations with low average IQ

[xxashyy]

You know i have to agree. Democracy is a sham without a informed public. Just look at Britain and the United States. Those are clear examples.

[l1011l]

Democracy is infinitely better than Islam and to those that hate it are welcome to move to Pakistan, Iran or any other muslim state.

[MementoExpose]

it will work in Iraq

[l1011l]

I'll add the answer is obvious, eliminate Islam completely and impose secular democracy. We are in WW3, a civilizational war against Islam, let's stop pretending we're not.

It is a barbaric, medieval ideology which has no legitimate reason to exist. It was invented by a mass murdering pedophile and since there is no proof of a god, nothing it contains is valid.

Its obvious our values in the West are far more advanced and enlightened than all muslim states. Its time we eliminate religions.

[xxashyy]

Youre a moron. How the hell can you elimate a billion muslims?

[l1011l]

I clearly said eliminate Islam-an ideology and replace it with freedom/democracy. With muslims most will accept the change and will prefer freedom over religious tyranny. Those radical muslims who'll wage war like Al Qaeda will need to be destroyed.

Also anything is possible we have the means to wipe out whoever we want to off this planet if we wanted, if the will exists. Islam is this century's Nazism-its evil and it needs to be relegated to the history books.

[xxashyy]

Well if you think Islam is a religous tyranny than Zionism and Radical Judaism is just as equal a threat. Lets not forget Israel is governed by religious fundamentalism too, mainly by the religious right Also democracy is NOT the END ALL. Israel, China, and the former USSR can also be called so called democracies and look at the massive criticisms these countries get.

[l1011l]

xx-you're a fucking brainwashed idiot, stop eating up all that nazi/islamist propaganda. If those 6 million Jews were trying to take over, we'd be after them too.

But the greatest threat to humanity is those 1.4 billion zombie slaves of the death cult of Islam that is the real danger.

People are starting to wise up and once we go to war against Iran, I'm sure the muslims here will go apeshit so we can start eliminating them here too.

[l1011l]

excellent vid, this guy's great.