Much of the Neocon doctrine is based on democratic ideals that were the outcome of the Enlightenment in Europe after a long period of feudal monarchy.
But the middle east never had an Enlightenment and never really had the same style feudalism as Europe.... If the middle east never had the European experience, how can they have a European solution.......
The middle east is filled with tribal cultures and patriarchical societies where order is maintained and legitimized DIFFERENTLY than in the west. Tribes and clans have "leadership" but it may not be elected. Yet the members of the clan or tribe may fully accept this leadership as legitimate DESPITE the lack of democratic methods.
This is why the national election in Iraq was such an oddity. People in Iraq simply were not ready for it. In retrospect a system of regional caucuses of the various tribes and clans would have produced a more legitimate government in the eyes of many in Iraq.
Or put another way....It's not about Thomas Jefferson! It's about the Magna Charta! If this experiment in the middle east fails that will be the reason.......
