John Samford: If Democracy was a virus, then why is Cuba still under the rule of a despot? N. Korea? Russia? If Japan didn’t infect Russia, how the ‘ell will Iraq infect Saudi Arabia?

Antibodies, in the form of the opposing ideologies of collectivism and fascism (or the not uncommon blending of the two).

The effort to spread democracy is not unnopposed – but it is progressing, bit by bit. There are more democraciese today than there have ever been.

But you are right – Iraq is only a part of the current global conflict.