We can help the Iraqis by defining democracy with our example

A little while ago I sat in on a meeting between several Shaykhs and Mullahs of a particularly troublesome region in our area of operations. One Mullah, who is vehemently anti-western and has praised Saddam publicly many times, recounted a story, which is probably an amalgam of stories that occurred in the area. The Americans and the Iraqi Army raided a house, woke everyone, and detained a few people. I do not remember clearly, but he may have said we may have killed someone. This is likely not far from the truth, since this is a problematic area with many raids, bombings, and an occasional death. At the very end, he said a phrase that I hear over and over again, “Is this democracy?”

This is something to which many Iraqis, especially criminals, appeal. Whether it is the recently detained terrorist or the screed of an angry Mullah, repeatedly they appeal to democracy. It is not that they actually want democracy; they could care less. They believe that our love of democracy is so great that this is the strongest appeal to us that they can make. Yet every time they ask if democracy means people crashing into your house at night and arresting you, or bombs blowing up houses, I always want to scream, “Yes!"

Many Iraqis and Americans have made the mistake of confusing democracy with the right to do whatever they want, no matter what they want to do. Not only is this not true, strictly speaking, democracy is the tyranny of the majority; majority rules, period. In the west, we have limited the majority’s power by guaranteeing rights. Nevertheless, we cannot do whatever we want. We cannot build bombs. We cannot kidnap. We cannot shoot at the Police. We cannot fire mortars into the neighboring town. If we do, the majority will beat us down. The same is true in any democracy.

In fact, this is democracy. We all want peace, but if you will not live by the rules, then you are breaking the peace and it is not incumbent on the ‘powers that be’ to refrain from restoring the peace over your dead body. Iraq is struggling to figure this out. Most people want to do whatever they want. That is not possible in civil society, and they simply do not understand that. This is in large part because America is setting a bad example. Both parties are guilty. If they do not get their way they sulk, instead of move on, or act as legitimate loyal opposition. We in America need to set the example.

We need to show that actions have consequences. Whether it is the vice-squad raiding your house, or a raid by the U.S. Army, there will be repercussions for violating the law. We chose our laws in the United States and Iraq is choosing its laws too. It is fine to oppose the government, but it is not fine to blow people up. Otherwise, you get to taste the swords edge of democracy and that is never as pleasant as you think it will be.

Note: This is no justification of the abuse of power either. The political and military powers need to be judicious in the use of their authority; otherwise it is no longer a democracy.