Theocracy in Iraq?

On the Corner, Andy McCarthy opines that he is discouraged over the US encouraging Iraq to set up a semi-theocracy where Islam is the basis of law. What people seem to be failing to recognize is that we are not doing this because it is our choice, but because it is, ultimately, the choice of the Iraqis.

We would like to believe that the majority of Iraqis want a secular government, separation of church-and-state, etc. But the reality is that those Iraqis who do are probably in the minority, and if we insist on secularizing the Iraqi government, we will alienate a large number of Shiites, who are currently willing to work with us.

Could we forcibly impose a secular government on Iraq? Certainly, we could; but it would require a whole lot of force on our part, and would inevitably alienate us from a large number of Iraqis. It wouldn't be as simple as telling Iraqis that the Constitution is unacceptable and sending them to their rooms without any supper until they redraw it. A Shiite insurgency would probably begin to appear; and we would need to start locking down a lot of Shiite-cominated areas like we do areas in the Sunni triangle.

Realistically, if we want to keep the transition in Iraq relatively peaceful, we have to give the people what they want.

That is all.