Surber's Summary

Today's Don Surber post says it all:

Having opposed the liberation, the left now demands instant democracy in Iraq.

The left is so vested in defeat in Iraq that they are making ridiculous demands on a nation that is recovering from about 20 years of war (beginning with Iran) and 30 years of tyranny.

Nation building is difficult, which is why the governor of Texas eschewed it in the 2000 presidential debate. Spreading democracy is a vaccine against terrorism, which is why the president embraced nation-building post-9/11.

Bush Derangement Syndrome is the only explanation for the left’s flip-flop from its historic embrace of idealism. . .

The change in demands from the left shows that we won militarily. Democracy is more difficult to deliver. It takes time and patience.

For those war-critics whose horizons are confined to the present, Surber also supplies some relevant history:

In Korea, the 3-year war between North and South ended in a cease-fire in 1953. The corrupt government of Syngman Rhee ended in student riots in 1960. A year later, General Park Chung-hee led a military coup and held power until 1979. This gave way to Choi Gyu Ha’s government, followed by a military coup a year later. Direct elections came about in 1989.

In Italy, a black market flourished but the 1st Republic was installed in 1948, roughly 3 years after its liberation. Its first election was marked by violence and U.S. efforts to keep communists from winning — and by Stalin’s efforts to buy the election. Southern West Virginians and Cook County Democrats run clean elections by comparison.

In France, the 4th Republic was installed after the war. It went through 21 changes in prime ministers in 11 years. The 5th Republic came about in 1958.

In Japan, Gen. MacArthur ruled the nation for 7 years. In 1952, its democracy was established.

Now then, 60 years after the war, troops remain in Italy, Japan and Germany, which took 45 years to re-unite.

Read the whole thing.

(via Instapundit)