Iraq: Democracy is not essential, says the US

By Alex Spillius in Washington

Last Updated: 9:31am BST 24/08/2007

Disillusion with Iraq's elected leaders has forced President George W Bush's senior advisers to contemplate a future without democracy - a goal that was at the heart of the rationale for the US-led invasion.

Last son returns from Iraq after brothers killed Saddam's party 'ready to help US withdrawal' Audio: Why democracy may never come to Iraq Ryan Crocker and Gen Petraeus: 'Now engaged in pursuing less lofty and ambitious goals than was the case at the outset' Frontline generals in Iraq spoke openly yesterday of the need to have a government that could function and guarantee security above all else, including democratic legitimacy. Brig Gen John Bednarek, who commands forces in Diyala province, told CNN that "democratic institutions are not necessarily the way ahead in the long-term future". Maj Gen Benjamin Mixon, the commander of Task Force Lightning, which has played a central role in the new "surge" strategy, said: "That is the $50,000 question - what will this government look like? Will it be a democracy? Will it not?" Ambassador Ryan Crocker and Gen David Petraeus, the senior US commander in Iraq, said in a statement that they were "now engaged in pursuing less lofty and ambitious goals than was the case at the outset", though they insisted that they were committed to preserving Iraq's democratic institutions. advertisement Their comments could be seen as straight-talking from those facing the daily realities of Iraq on the ground, but may signal a shift soon by the administration away from the holy grail of establishing a fully-functioning, multi-party, multi-ethnic government. They contradicted the bullish rhetoric of Mr Bush, who in a speech this week cited the enthusiasm shown by Iraqis for voting as justification for a prolonged US presence there. Iraqis have turned out in large numbers for several polls since the 2003 invasion that overthrew Saddam Hussein's dictatorship, the last of which elected the first popular government for 50 years. The performance of the Shia prime minister Nouri al-Maliki and his cabinet has however exasperated Washington and led to calls by influential senators, including Hillary Clinton, likely to be the Democrat presidential contender next year, for their removal, albeit by democratic means. Mr Bush expressed his displeasure with his Iraqi ally on Tuesday, saying "clearly, the Iraqi government's got to do more". He rowed back on his comments the following day, after they were seen as calling for a change of leadership. A National Intelligence Assessment released last night expressed deep doubts that Mr Maliki could overcome sectarian divisions within parliament and meet benchmarks intended to promote political unity, such as a deal on distributing oil revenues. "The report says that there's been little political progress to date, and it's very gloomy on the chances for political progress in the future," a Congressional official said. The report also cited some military gains, where Sunni insurgents and tribes had turned against al-Qa'eda and begun co-operating with the Americans. But it also warned, as some commanders on the ground have, that extremists could attempt sensational attacks to create a "mini-Tet" - a reference to the 1968 Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Tet offensive that undermined public support for the Vietnam War in the United States. The president justified sending 30,000 troop reinforcements to increase security and give Iraqi political leaders the breathing space to reconcile their differences. In September Mr Crocker and Gen Petraeus will submit a progress report which is likely say the body politic is moribund.