tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post4455317524271156861..comments2024-02-29T12:38:32.191-08:00Comments on MUSINGS ON IRAQ: Appeals Court To Go Through Banning Cases Before Iraq’s March ElectionJoel Winghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611810110771744360noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-4144653512308547762010-02-09T15:43:14.919-08:002010-02-09T15:43:14.919-08:00I think it's still an open question about what...I think it's still an open question about what Iraq will look like in the future. I would assume that they will continue with elections but the other parts of democracy may never devlope. For example, as long as the justice system is based upon confessions it's going to be hard to stop the police from beating people. The government also keeps on talking about putting more limits on the press, etc<br /><br />I always think of Nigeria when I think about a future Iraq. It has elections, it has oil, it's got a big population, but it's thoroughly corrupt, has groups that oppose the government, and it's got a lot of poor and struggling people making it a rather typical developing country.Joel Winghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09611810110771744360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-24877320212130498492010-02-09T14:24:01.523-08:002010-02-09T14:24:01.523-08:00"Has a lot to work on" is something of a..."Has a lot to work on" is something of an understatement. I'm curious as to how Iraq will ever transfer to a more or less normal democracy with endemic terrorism, being the fourth most corrupt country on the planet earth, and the meddling of the Islamic Republic.AndrewSshihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12092217847584427587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-51481396633530080062010-02-09T11:56:44.602-08:002010-02-09T11:56:44.602-08:00Unfortunately there is no real due process in Iraq...Unfortunately there is no real due process in Iraq. The A&J commission wasn't even appointed and yet everyone is following their lead. If someone says what they do is legal and others follow then that's all they need. That doesn't mean the elections won't happen or the government will suddenly collapse, but it shows that voting doesn't make a country a democracy and Iraq still has a lot to work on.Joel Winghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09611810110771744360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-79631600080495091352010-02-09T08:23:53.795-08:002010-02-09T08:23:53.795-08:00This, like many other things, should have been ant...This, like many other things, should have been anticipated, and clearly established concepts of due process should have been enshrined in law for barring candidates, so that it can not be done for raw political power. It's not too late. In fact it would be a great opportunity for the courts to assert its power and lay down the requirements of due process. Any attempt to ban a candidate at this late stage in the election process should be kicked out on the simple grounds that due process requires a reasonable time and opportunity for the candidates to present a defense.Jasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02594232079556508582noreply@blogger.com