Imposing Democracy?

After World War II many of the colonial powers pulled out of their previous colonial possessions with high hopes that democracy would ensue. Nigeria, the most populous of African nations was one of these set running with a parliamentary system based on the British model. Instead of democracy Nigeria was afflicted with a series of brutal military juntas indirectly kept in power by corporate oil interests. What should have been a prosperous nation with immense natural resources became a living hell. Abacha

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/109265.stm

was the last of these brutal dictators.

I was particularly aware of Nigeria, as my college roommate, Festus Adebonojo, a brilliant doctor and medical researcher had hoped to return to his native country to serve its people. He had to leave in disgust and return to this country instead to continue his medical practice and teaching and research here:

http://com.etsu.edu/default.asp?V_DOC_ID=814

Democracies seem to need to grow like plants. They cannot be mechanically imposed by outsiders. One hopes for the best for the battered people of Iraq, but things do not look promising there for them -- or our troops either in the line of fire or firing back at anonymous targets!

US tempers its view of victory in Iraq
The Pentagon hoped to quell unrest before a pullout, but violence is
changing US goals. By Mark Sappenfield
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0916/p01s02-usfp.html?s=hns