"It is not merely democracy itself that we seek" (in the middle east)

[Clarkie1]

It is not merely democracy itself--a popular vote to elect a government--that we seek for the Middle East, but rather more enlightened, tolerant, and moderating decisions and actions from governments. The tolerance, aversion to aggression, and openness which we hope to see emerge from a democratic transformation in the Middle East will require much more than just censuses, election registers, polling booths, and accurate ballot counts. We must avoid what Fareed Zakaria calls "illiberal democracy," governments which are elected but which routinely ignore constitutional limits on their power and deprive their citizens of basic rights and freedoms. Only by creating a system of pluralistic and overlapping structures and institutions that check the power of their leaders can the nations of the Middle East avoid this fate.

Wes Clark

Broken Engagement

more here....
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2004/0405.clark.html


If only W realized it wasn't so easy....

[HysteryDiagnosis]

1. Well, then, they certainly don't want to use Amurka as the pattern to

emulate now do they?? I mean, just how criminal has this administration been and if Iraq starts pulling shit like this admin has done, how long do you think it would take for us to reshock and reawe them?? Not long inho.


>>but rather more enlightened, tolerant, and moderating decisions and actions from governments. The tolerance, aversion to aggression, and openness which we hope to see emerge from a democratic transformation in the Middle East will require much more than just censuses, election registers, polling booths, and accurate ballot counts. We must avoid what Fareed Zakaria calls "illiberal democracy," governments which are elected but which routinely ignore constitutional limits on their power and deprive their citizens of basic rights and freedoms.<<

Aversion to aggression???? Just witf "who in the *" has ANY MIDDLE EASTERN COUNTRY bombed to hell and back in the last 50 years or so?? NO ONE. The only aggression in this region has come from the west or from countries that the west backs to the hilt. Hypocrites all. Economic vampires. Political hacks. Hegemonistic parasites. Liars and thieves.