I have said a number of times that one way we will know Iraq (or any other nation) will succeed as a democratic nation is when someone loses an election and goes peacefully. Electing the first leader is only the first step. When they elect a different one? That tells the tale.

Think in the abstract on this problem, not just on specifics. Democracy is only workable when founded on the deeper layer of a government that respects and protects individual rights. A pure democracy can be as much a tyranny as any other form of government. Three wolves and two sheep deciding what's for dinner.

And, of course, this entire argument about how "good" the democracy will be in Iraq conveniently sweeps under the rug the government that was in place when we got there. They had elections, too.