'Democratic' Frenzy in the Arab World

[rodbarnett]

By DONNA ABU-NASR
Associated Press Writer

March 15, 2004, 12:47 PM EST


BEIRUT, Lebanon -- Ever since the United States invaded Iraq, some Arab leaders have been acting out of character, talking about big changes in the works and using all the proper keywords: democracy, transparency, choice, human rights.

In the year that Baghdad fell and Saddam Hussein was captured, Saudi Arabia has announced it will hold its first ever election; Syria has freed 130 imprisoned critics of the regime; Egypt has revoked legislation used to jail journalists; Libya has promised to give up weapons of mass destruction programs.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-iraq-middle-east,0,3993542.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines

[wellst0nev0ter]

1. Good For Them

I'm not sure how much is due to Bush saying "create a democracy or I'll shoot you", but this is heartening just the same.

[sadiesworld]

2. And the hardliners won the day in Iran, Pakistan is a cesspool,

Turkey looks warily upon the Kurds, N. Korea is in full bore plutonium production, the Shiites in Iraq are licking their chops, etc.

[Roaming]

3. This, at least, is some progress in the right direction, but I seriously

question whether these comments are sincere or simply posturing. Most of these government are theocracies or very close to it, and it's hard to see how democracy would be compatible...