Here’s an influential American law professor arguing that we must respect people’s alleged “right” to tyrannize their neighbors:
A professor of law at New York University who served as senior adviser for constitutional law to the occupation authority in Iraq until mid-July, Noah Feldman, said… it is crucial Iraqis pick the constitution-making body because Iraqis must accept the finished product as legitimate.
“The Iraqis have a much better knowledge of their politics. I don’t honestly think we would be in a position to gerrymander the outcome by choosing particular individuals and I don’t think we would want to,” Mr. Feldman said. “The success of the constitution is absolutely crucial for the success of Iraq. I strongly object to those who measure the success of the constitution by the words in it. If the Iraqis don’t like the constitution, it has no chance of catching on.” … I see [Kanan Makiya’s] views as deeply desirable but not viable given the situation on the ground in Iraq. In Iraq most people don’t want separation of church and state,” Mr. Feldman said. [NYSun]
That people “want” to force their religion on others is no more worthy of respect than that a murderer “wants” to kill; regardless of how many people have such desires, they have no right to be left free to pursue such ends. The only reason America shouldn’t force religious freedom down the throats of unwilling Iraqis–which it would have every right to do–is that it is not our role to civilize barbarians, and it is not worth sacrificing American lives to such a cause.
Before we wind up promoting religious tyranny, America should get the hell out of Iraq (outside of maybe a few military bases)–with the proviso that we’ll be back to topple any future government that threatens our interests. If the Iraqis insist on being savages, they deserve what’s coming to them.