It's funny how Bush's "democracy in Iraq" meme got so firmly imbedded into the discourse

[Guaranteed]

regarding what to do about our involvement there. No one even questions that anymore (probably because of the tie-in to the Pottery Barn Rule), but he wasn't saying jack shit about "democracy" when he first went in there. He just rolled it out and hawked/harped on it day after day, month after month, and like all good marketing, eventually it became our vocabulary, framing our discussion.

[Solly Mack]

1. Simple reason really. "Spreading democracy" is easier to defend

so while Bush Inc was searching for a justification and throwing out all kinds of reasons for their illegal invasion, "spreading democracy" became the one that allowed America to not look as bad as the other lies.

See...people can get behind spreading democracy...afterall...you want people to be "free"...and Congress can embrace the same rationale as a rallying point because of all the lies, that one is the safest to cling to...

"Golly gee, we're just trying to help..it's not our fault it didn't go well. We had good intentions. Those damn ornery Iraqis didn't do their part to spread democracy. They didn't stand up so we can stand down"


Sure it's a lie...but it's the kind of lie that saves entrenched careers

[Guaranteed]

2. I guess I'm talking even more specifically about the discussion going on now

with regard to what to do about the civil war. "The mission's not finished" yadda yadda. It's almost as if that meme evolved, though, in conjunction with Powell's rule, into "we'd better get a government in there that isn't going to support terrorism." The high-minded stuff has pretty well dropped out. But, still, no one really attacks the "democracy" idea directly. Chimpy still throws it around quite a bit.

[Solly Mack]

3. Extension of the democracy meme....from spreading democracy

to everything else... and it has evolved, you're right...it's grown because that was the one lie that could grow

You can't elaborate the lie of WMDs much beyond there were none..even the "hid them elsewhere" has limited range

You can't elaborate the Saddam is an imminent threat..since that was a wash and well, he's dead now

Iraq didn't do "911"..so that can only be used so much and in a limited way...though it's still useful for fear mongering and diversion

But "spreading democracy" can be used and expanded and drawn upon for years to come..

The install a government that helps against terrorists IS spreading democracy...the "mission" is spreading democracy by forming such a government

it has evolved...because it could evolve and continue to serve a purpose...to maintain the lies and protect the liars

[KG]

4. it ties into one of the great myths about america, that america is all about spreading

democracy and freedom when, historicly, the exact opposite is true.