Rice defends the use of force to advance democracy

[tocqueville]

Fri Sep 30, 6:20 PM ET

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice defended the use of military force to advance the cause of democracy and liberty as "the only guarantee of true stability and lasting security".

"In a world where evil is still very real, democratic principles must also be backed with power in all its forms: political and economic, cultural and moral, and yes, sometimes military," Rice said in a speech at Princeton University in the northeastern state of New Jersey.

Alluding to countries such as Germany and France that opposed the US-led invasion of Iraq, Rice said: "Any champion of democracy who promotes principles without power can make no real difference in the lives of oppressed people."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050930/pl_afp/usdiplomacymideast_050930222033

comment : the cause of democracy is not "lasting security" (any dictatorship can ensure that) it's the well being of the people. Liberty isn't a warrant either for stability. A dictatorship can be stable. And regarding France and Germany they are not "without power" for the one, and for the second they don't start unjust wars in the name of democracy (at least today). According to Rice monopoly of power gives you the right to apply "democracy" on others...

The "funniest" thing in all this is that the mightiest military machine in the world is effectively quagmired by a bunch of "ragheads" armed with AK 47,RPGs and explosives... so much for the power...

[clydefrand]

1. "In a world where evil is still very real..." yes, like right here.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. In a world where evil is still very real

She's been flying around the states I take it.... perhaps she is too young to understand Iran Contra, Vietnam, Watergate, Kennedy's asassination, Chile, Guatamela, Fort Benning, Ruby Ridge, Waco, 40 million Americans wo healthcare, and on and on. Poor little tool... she really must be tired of herself.

[marmar]

3. I defend the use of force...

to remove her and the rest of these miscreants from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

[tompayne1]

4. RIce would defend the use of force

To bang your sister if W told her to.

[savemefromdumbya]

5. She is a Vulcan

a what you call a modern day fascist

[TahitiNut]

6. Yeah. Look how well it worked in Viet Nam, Korea, Iraq ...

:eyes:

[FreedomAngel82]

11. Look at here!

[pinto]

7. Condi wants her Soviet Union thesis back in play. Big power politics.

[speedoo]

8. When a US Secretary of State advances this kind of position...

It's an indicator of how bad things have become.

We absolutely must get these people out of power.

[OneBlueSky]

9. the US never uses force to "advance democracy" . . .

neocons HATE democracy . . . this is simply the excuse BushCo employs to hide the REAL reason for the use of force -- to control and/or steal the resources of other nations for the benefit of their corporate sponsors . . .

[FreedomAngel82]

10. So why is she in office?

If she believed in this BS she wouldn't be there and Al Gore would be. She doesn't give a damn.

[spacelady]

12. Make her stop talking, perhaps using force. n/t

[L.A.dweller]

13. She is perpetuating this idea of good vs. evil

Isn't that what Hitler did with the Jews.

[LynnTheDem]

14. Rice & the entire bush Cabal; so OUT OF TOUCH.

Do you think that the goal of overthrowing Iraq’s authoritarian government and establishing a democracy was by itself a good enough reason to go to war with Iraq?

Yes 19%
No 74%
No answer 7%

Has the experience in Iraq made you feel better or worse about the possibility of using military force to bring about democracy in the future?

Better 19%
Worse 72%
No answer 9%
http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/index.cfm/fuseaction/viewItem/itemID/9205