naivety
by John at 12/05/2004 09:08:00 AM
Remember when some people thought that Bush actually had a plan to encourage democracy to the Middle East, and that a democratic Iraq was just the first step along the way? This was part of Bush's solution to global terrorism.
Not any more.
"WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 - When Secretary of State Colin L. Powell and other senior American officials arrive at a summit meeting in Morocco next week that is intended to promote democracy across the Arab world, they have no plans to introduce any political initiatives to encourage democratic change.
President Bush started speaking in 2002 about the need to bring democracy to the Arab nations. Since then, however, the popular view of the United States in the region has grown so dark, even hateful, that American officials are approaching the meeting with caution and with a package of financial and social initiatives that have only a scant relationship to the original goal of political change.
Administration officials and their allies defend the change in strategy, saying the United States should no longer try to take the lead."
-----
Once upon a time, Mr. Bush said, "It is hard work. It is hard work to go from a tyranny to a democracy. It's hard work to go from a place where people get their hands cut off, or executed, to a place where people are free. But it's necessary work."
Sure it's hard work. And it's even harder now than it was two years ago, because promoting democracy from behind the barrel of a gun (or a precision-guided bomb) just isn't a very good idea.
Not any more.
"WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 - When Secretary of State Colin L. Powell and other senior American officials arrive at a summit meeting in Morocco next week that is intended to promote democracy across the Arab world, they have no plans to introduce any political initiatives to encourage democratic change.
President Bush started speaking in 2002 about the need to bring democracy to the Arab nations. Since then, however, the popular view of the United States in the region has grown so dark, even hateful, that American officials are approaching the meeting with caution and with a package of financial and social initiatives that have only a scant relationship to the original goal of political change.
Administration officials and their allies defend the change in strategy, saying the United States should no longer try to take the lead."
-----
Once upon a time, Mr. Bush said, "It is hard work. It is hard work to go from a tyranny to a democracy. It's hard work to go from a place where people get their hands cut off, or executed, to a place where people are free. But it's necessary work."
Sure it's hard work. And it's even harder now than it was two years ago, because promoting democracy from behind the barrel of a gun (or a precision-guided bomb) just isn't a very good idea.
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