Sham of a democracy

This is a pretty telling report from the Associated Press about how Iraq's fledgling government is expected to mature over the next year or so.

Virtually every step of the way will be dominated by the American presence -- "nonpartisan Iraqi technocrats" will be groomed by US troops and advisers, Iraqi leaders will take their cues directly from the massive US Embassy being built in Baghdad, and the general budget will be lorded over by US officials like Paul Bremer.

"Democracy" will indeed flourish, but it will be the kind of democracy that is ultimately deferential to American interests.