US bids to bring democracy to Arab states

[nolabels]

http://www.antiwar.com/

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/02/09/1076175100991.html
US bids to bring democracy to Arab states

By Robin Wright, Glenn Kessler
Washington
February 10, 2004

The Bush Administration has launched an ambitious bid to promote democracy in the "greater Middle East" that will adapt a model used to press for freedoms in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.

US officials said senior White House and State Department officials had begun talks with key European allies about a plan to be put forward this northern summer at summits of the Group of Eight nations, NATO allies and the European Union. If it gets backing there, the US hopes to win support from Middle Eastern and south Asian countries.

"It's a sweeping change in the way we approach the Middle East," a senior State Department official said. "We hope to roll out some of the principles for reform in talks with the Europeans over the next few weeks, with specific ideas of how to support them."

Details are still vague but US and European officials said the initiative, to be tabled at the G-8 summit hosted by President George Bush in June, would call for Arab and south Asian governments to adopt major political reforms, be held accountable on human rights - particularly women's empowerment - and introduce economic reforms.


As incentives for countries to co-operate, Western nations would offer better political relations, more aid, membership in the World Trade Organisation and security arrangements, possibly something like the Partnership for Peace with former Eastern bloc countries
(snip)

[AliceWonderland]

1. You can't bring democracy

You can't launch it, promote it, pay for it, force it, initiate it, or anything of the sort. Democracy is bottom up, not top down, if it's to be stable, meaningful, inclusive and lasting.

[cprise]

2. Arabs and Muslims are the new 'evil empire'

''The Bush Administration has launched an ambitious bid to promote democracy in the "greater Middle East" that will adapt a model used to press for freedoms in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.''


It's official.

[rman]

3. force down their throat, more like

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[hadrons]

4. and these fools expect the Arab dictatorships to help them???