Thanks for the kind words. TigerHawk’s Jan 5 post on Friedman’s rather negative outlook on Iraqi democracy got me motivated to attempt a rebuttal in SeekerBlog Bets Contra to Stratfor on "Facing Realities in Iraq".

I argue basically that the Iraqis can defeat what I call the Infiltration Factor by means of "The Chain of Trust". I find it surprising that Friedman believes the Iraqis aren’t clever enough to weed out the traitors by working out-and-down from trusted leadership (Army, Police, Judiciary,…).

Any criticisms much appreciated!

Cheers, Steve D.

For sure, mate! See The Quotations Page I think I first encountered that quote in a talk by Richard Feynman.

What is the Yogi Bera quote you were thinking of?

Cheers, Steve D.

Thanks heaps, mate! Lots of thoughtful, informed commentators have made it over to SeekerBlog.

The primary purpose of SeekerBlog is weed out the false – to find superior, objective sources. E.g., this week due to informed reader comment we discovered that Khidhir Hamza, aka "Saddam’s Bombmaker" is very likely a fraud:

The oversight and insight of readers enables the truth-fishing.

Cheers, Steve D.

Thanks for the edit. “Moonbats, Wingnuts, and Cluepaupers,” indeed.

I missed a thank you!

But I do wish all the Western elites would get over the idea that democracy is such a difficult thing to achieve in traditional societies, or in cultures that are not so-called Western. Democracy is certainly less of a big deal, and more kind on tradition (just ask the Marsh Arabs, or the Amish for that matter), than modern fascism and communism (also of the West). I hate it when [Moonbats, Wingnuts, and Cluepaupers] argue either explicitly or implicitly that Hussein’s Iraq or communist China are somehow a continuance of thousands of years of tradition… What’s more alien to Chinese traditions than ideology based on Europe’s Marx.

Excellent!

I missed a thank you!

But I do wish all the Western elites would get over the idea that democracy is such a difficult thing to achieve in traditional societies, or in cultures that are not so-called Western. Democracy is certainly less of a big deal, and more kind on tradition (just ask the Marsh Arabs, or the Amish for that matter), than modern fascism and communism (also of the West). I hate it when {Moonbats, Wingnuts, and Cluepaupers] argue either explicitly or implicitly that Hussein’s Iraq or communist China are somehow a continuance of thousands of years of tradition… What’s more alien to Chinese traditions than ideology based on Europe’s Marx.

Excellent!

I want to join the Thank You Chorus for pointing to that article and blog. Very interesting, very.

TigerHawk,

An additional Thank You for your blog and analysis. I’m pretty sure it was Roger who pointed me there also.

Carol_Herman,

I am very fond of the work “Ginny” does at ChicagoBoyz.net. I’m beginning to thing you are the “Ginny” here at Roger’s Place. Esoteric and erudite (which equates to enjoyable for me ;>). Yet another Thank You due, this time to you.