Just on a side note, CR : Whilst you would be happy to accept Iranian choice as democratic were they able to vote for the Supreme Leader Ayatollah, are you sure that your Government would be as egalitarian? What if the people of Iran were to choose the same Supreme Leader Ayatollah as they have now? Would your Government find that acceptable? Even with a limited choice, the people of Iran have chosen a conservative President over a reformist one.Colorado Ryder said:Tell us which is more democratic? When Iranians are allowed to vote who the Supreme Ayatollah is then they will be considered "democratic".
From where I sit, I believe the US Government (as opposed to yourself), is more concerned with economic and tactical alliances than it is with democracy. The word 'democracy' is a furphy when used by the US Government to explain foreign policy. The US Government (I don't break this down into Democrat vs. Republican levels) was quite happy to do business with a non-elected Shah who managed to squander the wealth of Iran, just as it was happy to do business with the wonderful Mr Pinochet of Chile. They have been very selective as to when democracy is and is not a factor.
I am pleased to see that democracy is important to you, CR. I am a little more sceptical of how important it is to the various Governments that your Nation has produced over the course of time.