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I'm convinced that values play a large part in understanding the differences between cultures. 'Freedom', personal and otherwise, only surfaces where it is allowed to surface - where it is fostered and encouraged and deliberately woven into the fabric of a society, from the top down, through a certain system of values. I don't see this as being a spontaneous occurence; on the contrary, if nothing is done to bring it about, you have the opposite of freedom: oppression.
As far as iraq, I think the best way to go about achieving stability at this point is to continue to train more and more Iraqis to create an Iraqi security presence capable of dealing with the insurgency. They have to stop these killers from attacking police stations, assasinating government officials, and blowing up civilians on a daily basis. Once an effective security force is established, people won't have to live in fear, and life will return to normal. Electricity will return full time, water, food, schooling, communications, people can go back to work, etc. The key to this entire thing is the creation of an effective Iraqi security force: police, national guard, army. This is no secret to anyone.
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