On Thu, 21 Jun 2001, Alberto Monteiro wrote:
> JDG wrote:
> >> Also, I would exclude Iran in the
> >> group of "rogue nations" because they have free elections
> >
> > But the elected officials are nearly powerless.
> >
> A small detail. Fidel Castro might argue that the
> USA is less democratic than Cuba because the elected
> president of the USA has less power than the elected
> president of Cuba.
Umm, who is the elected President of Cuba? So far as I am aware, Fidel
Castro has not ever stood for free elections. And is his title even
President, for that matter?
> > The Ayatollah still remains the "supreme leader". He cannot
> > be overruled, and dissent is not tolerated. Iranians have
> > no democratic method of altering his power.
> >
> Isn't it like the Supreme Court?
No, because the Supreme Court is both not the ruling body of the United
States, and there _are_ democratic methods of reversing its decisions.
> > As such, I don't think that the strength of Iran's democracy
> > gives it a free pass.
> >
> Which country has a totally free press? If I were a printer
> in the USA, could I print and sell 1000 editions of
> Glory Season [*]?
>
> Alberto Monteiro
I think you can guess my answer to this one. You're having fun, aren't
you Alberto? :-)
Gautam
