"We shouldn't impose our system of government on others" We don't...we impose Britain's

In an admittedly petulant manner I once slipped in this statement on a daily SITREP...<div><br></div><div>"We seem to be the only army in history that comes from a federated constitutional republic, with a relatively free market economic system that deposes &nbsp;dictatorships and immediately sets up parliamentary democracies with highly regulated, often centrally planned economies. Perhaps Iraq would benefit from a model closer to the United States with a weaker federal government and more authority over local issues handled at the provincial level"</div><div><br></div><div>Now please understand...I was an 18F, I wasn't exactly briefing the president, but I did get the obligatory, "keep your comments to matters that fall into your purview Freitas" from my Detachment Commander...only after he forwarded it to the Battalion before checking it.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>In the end no harm no foul, our Battalion CDR was a great commander who appreciated bluntness from his NCO's and liked us to think outside of the box, although again...daily SITREP not the best place to wax intellectual...then again, I really thought the detachment commander would read it like he always did, give me the eye roll, and take it out. It was a bit of a game we played, to keep him honest...guess he forgot to play that day.</div><div><br></div><div>Having said all that, I stand by the statement. I do believe that in many environments, especially ones where there is significant distrust between rather large sectors of the population, allowing for greater local governance over those issues which affect day to day life, and limiting the federal governments role to national security, international relations, some infrastructure, etc. can alleviate social tensions.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>In addition, policies such as privatizing the oil industry in Iraq and giving each citizen a share of the oil wealth in the form of stock as a condition of sale would assist in preventing control of oil wealth by the central government as a tool with which to punish enemies and reward friends, while at the same time making the protection of the refineries, pipelines, etc. a common concern, rather than a target for those entities which feel disenfranchised.</div><div><br></div><div>Just some thoughts this morning over coffee...</div><div><br></div><div>For my British compatriots...no offense...I was going for an edgy title.</div>