Values to "impose" on Iraq
     By Curtiss Wikstrom

     Before relinquishing power to a new authority in Iraq, a commitment to the following principals should be required of those who would take control.  This commitment should be in the form of an adopted constitution and an oath to support the constitution.  Those who will not pledge to support the new constitution should not be permitted to participate in the new government.

1.  Freedom of Religion, thought, and expression.  This means people of different religions have the right to debate their beliefs and try to convince others to believe as they do. The state should not favor one religion over another, and religious groups should be permitted to own their own property.  People should be permitted to start Newspapers, TV and Radio stations which are not controlled by the government.

2.  The rule of law, and due process of law.  People may not be punished or controlled except to the extent that they violate written laws which are adequately defined.  The police and judicial system must be separate institutions.  Trial by jury of ones peers should be required before any serious penalties can be meted out, such as incarceration or death.  Cruel and unusual punishment such as torture should be prohibited. 

3.  Limiting government to its proper purposes by a constitution.  The duty of government should be defined as providing for order and the defense of people.  All other peaceful activity should be open to the voluntary efforts and cooperation between free people.  A system of checks and balances should be included in the constitution to prevent the accumulation of excessive power by any group of people. And a bill of rights like the US bill of rights should be included to protect the rights of minorities from abuse by the majority .

4.  Active protection of minority rights.  The new authorities should be required to pledge to actively defend the freedom of minority groups to express their ideas and chose their own religious beliefs from thugs, mobs, and gangs.  Terrorist activity should be outlawed, and the advocacy of violence against others with different religious beliefs should be punished. Schools which incite violence against others should be closed down. Schools and organizations which lie about the beliefs of others should be punished for defamation, libel, and slander. Punishing this behavior is not inconsistent with the right of freedom of expression.  Freedom of expression does not mean one can deprive others of their freedom of expression. 

5.  Assure than Women have equal opportunity to vote and participate in the political process.

     There are those who would thoughtlessly claim that we have no right to impose our values on other countries.  That is a foolish misconception and mis-statement of what the real issues are.   Those of us who believe in liberty have a right to join together with anyone else anywhere in the universe who also believes in liberty to defend that liberty against those who would take it away from us.  In reality we are not imposing our views on others. We are simply willing to use force to prevail over those who would use force to impose themselves, their systems, or their beliefs on us. None of the values listed above are impositions on others, they are defenses against the impositions of others, whether they be thugs, gangs, majorities, minorities, or governments.