"There is a fallback option to a perfect democracy in Iraq. That is the
Turkish solution, which has worked in other countries, beginning with Kemal
Ataturk's aggressive reforms in 1923. That is for the Army to become the
guarantor of electoral governments. Turkey is riven by many political and
religious factions, from modernizers and to open reactionaries. In the last
election some 50 parties fielded slates, but only three made it over the 10
percent threshold into parliament. It is Ataturk's Turkish Army that has
consistently been the most unifying and modernizing national force for eight
decades. And by having a universal draft for young males, the modernizers have
exercised great influence to bring the former Ottoman Empire into a mixed
system, with a strong element of electoral legitimacy. "
Maybe in Iraq it would be better to put together a unified army to keep the politicians in line, than to put together a government of unified politicians to keep the army in line. Would Iraq have a stronger chance at democracy if it followed the Turkey model.
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