Thread: Iraq mistakes must not halt global push for democracy, says

Iraq mistakes must not halt global push for democracy, says Miliband
From Times Online
February 12, 2008

David Miliband will attempt to recast British foreign policy in the post-Iraq era tonight, arguing that mistakes there and in Afghanistan should not derail the moral imperative to intervene abroad in the pursuit of spreading democracy.

The Foreign Secretary will cite China's growing power as a warning that “we can no longer take the forward march of democracy for grantedâ€

* Have your say

Seems strange in the UK with all those big brother cameras and laws that some Brit is promoting democracy!
Of course he really means British Imperial type democracy,
n'est pas!!!

wal, Melbourne,

Democracy is a smokescreen for the takeover of the offending nations resources.

Colonialism is in play. It is scripted with the buzzwords freedom, liberty and democracy. This simply means war.

However noble democracy sounds, it is a tool employed to gather momentum, and justify war.

randy, white rock, Canada

This is just dictatorship of western elite under guise of 'democracy' - a system easily corrupted so as to be controlled by the western power elite. The idea that the bbc is impartial is a joke - it puts out only propaganda. The west's elite has a long and bloody history of trying to dominate the world. All talk of democracy is just hogwash for the sheeple. Make no mistake - brutal repression is either by the west or on its behalf in nearly all cases.

Jay Smith, Nottingham,

In October, when discussing the EU Constitutional Treaty, Mr Miliband was telling us that referendums were the province of dictators and demagogues. Now he seems quite keen on Burma having one, where the people decide their own constituional settlement.

He's also been keen on referendums in domestic matters, such as the North East Assembly in 2004 - when he thinks Labour can win. Bit of a mixed up kid...

Brian, London, England

The true concern should not be with democracy, which is merely a process of legitimation, but rather with individual liberty. It is depressing that we do not hear British ministers discussing such an idea. Liberty and democracy should go hand-in hand, but the government has a particular view of democracy: that of a popularly elected, but powerful, legislature (and perhaps executive). True democracy would actually enable every person to rule him or herself insofar as they did not harm others. That, however, would ridicule much of what a left-wing government does and is therefore unacceptable.

John Scott, London,

The definition of democracy "Government for the people by the people" is something that the western powers do not practice but assert that they do. Mr. Miliband is promoting a business model, which plunders the resources of the planet earth to provide the wealth for its nations, in which the decisions of government are taken by a few parliamentarians, whose views in most cases do not represent those of its citizens as their citizens do not vote on the legislation.

The misguided promotion by Mr. Miliband of an out of date political system, that makes money its prime concern, is not truly democratic and has brought the world to a catastrophic environmental disaster. The actions of Mr. Miliband reflect the total ignorance and non enlightened thinking of Mr. Miliband, the British parliamentary system, and those who continue to support it in its present form.

Yes we all want democracy. The British and western powers need to revise their model before continuing with efforts to persuade others to follow in their footsteps. Its present model is totally environmentally destructive and certainly not democratic in its approval of legislation.

Jim Wills, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Is this from the Foreign Secretary of a country where the OECD said that they may have to monitor future elections, that was only a few weeks ago and nothing has changed since 2004 when the famous "Banana Republic" quote from Richard Mawhey over the election fraud in Birmingham, well I will concede Labour are much more efficient at processing Postal votes these days.

Alan G, Heckmondwike, England

Miliband is correct: The fight for democracy goes on. But not only in Afghanistan and Iraq. The ideal of democracy is as threatened in Britain under his party's rule as it is in either of the two other states in question.

Brown has reneged on a promise of a referendum; his party continues to demand power to detain us without charge for longer and longer periods. They have a covert plan to register us all on a compulsory ID database, to demand our finger prints, DNA samples and iris scans without cause.

In fact they plan to register our identiies and our medical records and more besides. The DVLC sells our details to private concerns without our consent. It would not be so bad if we could trust their security, but they have lost 25 million records.

Politicians continue to demand our taxes to fund their corrupt parties in the absence of them being sufficiently trustworthy to obey their own part funding laws.

Oh yes, the struggle continues, all right!

Edwin, Bucharest,

For a young turk who probably doesn't shave yet and is barely out of diapers, Miliband would be better employed sorting out Britains ills rather than concerning himself over other countries problems. Unless you're a politician trying to make a name for yourself, most in Britain don't give a toss about other countries lack of democracy providing it doesn't affect them. Africa is a basket case of corruption, nepotism and violence whilst the Muslim world is living in the middle ages. Just as Russia's communism imploded not from an invasion from the west but at the hands of its own ruling class so to will African & Islamic nations collapse if left to their own devices. No aid, no support, no intervention and maybe in a hundred years or so those barbaric third world countries will self destruct without any help from the west. Once broke and in disarray the west could then offer to take over a failed country just as Branson is bidding for Northern Rock. Thats called free market forces.

Mike, Alicante, Spain

William
Unfortunately you're correct. We in the UK live in a kakistocracy, sadly that won't change.
I agree wholeheartedly with Dr Piskolti's comments. We have absolutely no right to impose our "democratic" principles throughout the world. I lived for a number of years in the Sultanate of Oman, where there is no elected government and the country is governed by the Sultan and his advisors. A beautiful country, wonderful hospitable people, excellent healthcare, education, virtually no crime. Everyone is happy.
Would Mr Milliband impose democracy there?

Paul, Lincs,

democracy begins at home, so what about that referendum your boss promised?

rod dull, kettering,

but a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty is not good for democracy!

riccardo, brussels,

I would prefer it if Milliband tried a little harder to convince the prime minister that democracy would be the preferred form of government in the UK.

william , Southampton, UK

"I understand the doubts about Iraq and Afghanistan and the deep concern at the mistakes made. "

So the government admits there were mistakes. When is it going to apologise to the world for those mistakes and the suffering, death and human misery that resulted from their misjudged policies?

Miliband seems determined to repeat the same 'mistakes' over and over, ad infinitum.

Edwin, Bucharest,

I am horrified to read about Milliband's statements about the supposed " moral imperative to intervene abroad in the pursuit of spreading democracy " and the need to "promote and support democracy abroad" if necessary incl.through military interventions.This is LUNACY! Since when does one country,region,race etc have the "right " to impose its own forms of government,its societal oragnisations and values on other countries and regions?! This smacks of 19 ct. interventionism when Western powers overran weaker, smaller developing resource rich states with the ostentative pretext of bringing "civilization " to them.This was called imperialism and all did to these countries was to bring death, devastation, rape and exploitation and resulting underdevelopment for centuries.What he now preaches smacks of Neo-imperialism under the guise of bringing "democracy" to resource rich and/or strategically important countries.He should read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights !

Dr.Sz.Piskolti, Signy, Switzerland

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/w ... 357500.ece