Afghanistan never had a great democratic establishment it was always a tribal country. Whatever political structure there was – was destroyed by the Soviets and than the Taliban.

How can you expect a totally wrecked country to develop all the necessary basics for a "nice" Democracy within a few years?

But Afghanistan also shows the old problem the West has to bring Democracy to fledgling countries. Usually they support a pro-Western establishment or strongman. In Egypt it was Saddat now it’s Mubarak, in Saudi Arabia it’s the Sauds and in Iran it was the Shah …

These figures are usually the "best" the country has to offer at that stage: some strong, willing and connected people to run everything, because there is no established party system or even a basic bureaucracy to run things.

Without basic government services and an enforcement of low there can be no Democracy. And Iraq and Afghanistan shows how hard it is to convince the power players to be nice and adopt Democracy when they can have almost unlimited power instead (like Saddam).

And the common people often share the tribal or religious mindset of their Sheiks or Mullahs. Why share, when we are Gods chosen people?

Democracy is a long process of establishing new ideas and behaviours. It won’t come overnight or in a few years …