Its so sad, but predictable that an Iraq article only gets a comment after 12 hours. Two years ago it would have been front row, centre.

The author's interest in democracy may be a Kurdish minority interest, legacy of US and even Israeli sponsors, of the Kurdish/oil minority region of Iraq.

What the author doesn't realise is that the issue was never democracy - its was US domination of the central oil areas of the Middle East. It was also about a US President having a chest-thumpingly successful war after the huge nationatal security humiliation of 9/11.

Irag was Bush's war.

But America and the mentality of fellow Australian commenters has moved on. We forget. We don't really care.

Obama is the champion of the Afghani war - now that Iraq is firmly American territory.

All eyes have been shifted by Obama and his dependent military and his dependent media to the new war in Afghanistan.

Iraq is now a contest between finely tuned Iran backed Shiites and US/Saudi backed Sunni's to fight for sand and oil and stay weak. The working equilibrium is a weak country still dominated by the US, the West and their oil firms.

If they're happy Australia's happy.

Democracy and the fate of Iraq in media land is a memory except for bombings soon forgotten.

Making way for wars selected by a new Presidential culture.

Obama will surge the troops into Afghanistan, generate a perception of success in time for talking of bringing some troops home before the Next Presidential election.

Pete

"Iraq’s lack of political and economic progress is not the direct fault of the Americans and its leaders have been just as culpable in prolonging the Iraqi agony."
The US was only indirectly responsible. Destroying Iraq's public health, food distribution, electrical generating and distribution systems, installing Shias, while excluding Sunnis and non-sectarian Iraqis from government, loosing track after leaving megatons of ordnance unsecured are all only indirectly responsible for Iraq's problems.
The US's appointment of the highest grade native puppets, chosen for their English speaking abilities and western clothing made sure their continued rule/existence was totally reliant on US support. After all, how educated and civilized can one be if you don't speak excellent English?
One thing the US can be proud of is the doubling of acute malnutrition in Iraq's children since the 'end of major combat operations' in Operation Iraq Liberation.