Fighting For Something... Finally.

In two recent posts (click here or here) I commented on the way that America had ignored human rights violations in both Iraq and Afghanistan.  A few weeks ago, something was finally done in Iraq that seems to be with America's values.

Candidates with ties to the Ba'th Party, the party of Saddam Hussein, were for a long time not allowed to run.  The government recently published a list of Ba'th Party members who would be allowed to run.  Some candidates are still not allowed to run, but I think that this is a step in the right direction.

People had criticized the ban on Ba'th party members and those with connections running, calling it a ploy to remove unwanted candidates from office.  Indeed, most people could find a link to the Ba'th party, which was for years the dominant part in Iraq.  Even if it was only Ba'th party members who were banned, I wouldn't see the justification.  People claim it is to remove the threat of another dictator, but isn't that the cost of democracy.  You have to let anyone run, and hope that the people choose the right way.