And they call this Democracy in Iraq

Recent events in Iraq (and I am not even going to discuss the Bush war machine's efforts in Iran) reminds me of a song from Bruce Cockburn, "And they call it Democracy." Just change a few terms and it fits the current sad situation that we find ourselves dealing with:

Another oil pipeline is blown up by insurgents north of Baghdad. Anyone think that a full flow of Iraqi oil hitting the world market might help with unraveling of oil prices? Of course, we are told that gas prices are outside of non-market controls by the fat cats who never have ever had to worry about getting to work.

We also have the unraveling of the coalition of the coerced as Ukraine (don't worry I have not forgot Poland) has begun pulling its troops out of Iraq as part of a phased withdrawal of its over 1600+ group. Why is this so important? Ukraine has the sixth largest contingent in the so-called coalition. Anyone think that might mean more work for overworked American soldiers?

Consider the lyrics to the song and see if you agree with me about the connection to Iraq:

Padded with power here they come
International loan sharks backed by the guns
Of market hungry military profiteers
Whose word is a swamp and whose brow is smeared
With the blood of the poor

Who rob life of its quality
Who render rage a necessity
By turning countries into labor camps
Modern slavers in drag as champions of freedom

Sinister cynical instrument
Who makes the gun into a sacrament --
The only response to the deification
Of tyranny by so-called "developed" nations'
Idolatry of ideology

North South East West
Kill the best and buy the rest
It's just spend a buck to make a buck
You don't really give a flying fuck
About the people in misery

IMF dirty MF
Takes away everything it can get
Always making certain that there's one thing left
Keep them on the hook with insupportable debt

See the paid-off local bottom feeders
Passing themselves off as leaders
Kiss the ladies shake hands with the fellows
Open for business like a cheap bordello

And they call it democracy
And they call it democracy
And they call it democracy
And they call it democracy

See the loaded eyes of the children too
Trying to make the best of it the way kids do
One day you're going to rise from your habitual feast
To find yourself staring down the throat of the beast
They call the revolution

IMF dirty MF
Takes away everything it can get
Always making certain that there's one thing left
Keep them on the hook with insupportable debt

What do you think?

And we still have questions about whether or not we will have democracy in Iraq after the much heralded election: Efforts between Kurdish leaders and a Shi'ite contingent to form the next Iraqi government have completely collapsed a mere three days before Iraq's first elected parliament was to meet (at least among those who were able to vote). The two groups have between them the two-thirds majority needed to form the new Iraqi government.

This failure to reach a compromise could leave Iraq in political confusion for sometime to come! Anyone think that this might have a negative impact on the marching of Democracy in Iraq? Anyone?