Quote:
Originally Posted by dc_dux
I understand what you are saying, but I dont think it is that tough.
Basic rights should not be dependent on the age of democratic institutions.
And, yes, part of is fear of change...but much of it is purely political hypocrisy.
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Well, on the one side you have the politics (no matter how hypocritical), but on the other side you have public perceptions.
In Iraq, the moves of the government are such that rights and freedoms previously unknown to you are being granted regardless (ostensibly) of your religion, class, education, etc. This is moving away from being in a state of fear that Saddam's guard could steal you or your brother or your father away to have them executed in the dead of night. It was a place where you had few economic liberties, you had few social liberties, you had few cultural liberties, etc.
In America, a shift in policy towards granting more rights and freedoms, policies often viewed as liberal or socialistic, are viewed by a large portion of the population as an assault on liberty and as "taxes are theft" or "taking money out of my pocket to feed society's deadbeats" or "it's not my damn problem" or whatever. And by large, I mean really sizable. How many conservatives are there in the U.S.? And that's just type of group that would take on some of these sentiments.
Also realize that in American politics, even your centrists (Obama included) are viewed internationally as too far to the right. When operating outside of American territory, it's a different game completely.