by Kali Gwegwe

Created on: June 19, 2008

No doubt, democracy has finally emerged as the best form of government after several centuries of political experiments that cut across diverse cultures, religions, and even economic systems. This did not come on a platter of gold. It cost humanity millions of candles, barrels of blood, billions of dollars, broken homes, unloved children, steadfastness and faith of democrats to bring the world to this high political platform.

In all of these, huge credit must be given to successive American leaders for their unflinching belief and supoort not only for the sustenance of democracy at home, but its rapid spread across the globe. But for the tactic adopted, the United States would have been the only or major beneficiary of democracy which promotes accountability, transparency, and good governance.

It is very important to note at this point that accountabilty and transparency wins and builds the confidence of citizens. This is viewed against the backdrop that no government can survive without the support of the citizenry. Perhaps, this best explains the strong reason why military dictators use force to make the citizens support their regimes.

But as good as the desire of the United States to have democracy enthroned all over the world is, certain political actions from the White House and Capital Hill have tended to make democracy unattractive in less developed societies of the world. Democracy was suppossed to have a woman face and civil heart. Certain actions coming out of the United States seem to rubbish this assumption.

It has also become evident that the United States' quest to spread democracy to all nook and cranies of the world is inspired but some hidden motives ranging from economic to military interests. This became known when it was wondered in nmany quarters why Washington should go even to the extreme- war, propaganda, espionage, assasinations, and even giving support to dictators in order to take democracy to the remotest part of the globe.

The war in Iraq is a very clear example. The aim of this unfortunate war that has destroyed the religion, culture, tradition, and economy of the Gulf nation has economic, security, military, and political undertones. This has infact not gone down well even among American citizes. Apart from Britain, most other major backers of Washington's 'democracy wars' like France, Germany, and Canada are beginning realign their support which now appears to them too blind for comfort.

In as much as the people of Iraq needs democracy,

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