Democracy in the Middle East

5-5-28　Why　George　Bush's　freedom　talk　falls　flat　in　some　Arab　circles

IT　IS　Pavlovian.　When　Americans　say　“democracy”,　Arabs　say　“Palestine”.　Or,　at　least,　Arab　leaders　do.　Amr　Moussa,　the　secretary-general　of　the　Arab　League,　is　an　arch-exponent　of　this　conditioned　response.　At　a　meeting　of　the　World　Economic　Forum　in　Jordan　last　weekend,　he　barked　“Palestine”　every　time　Liz　Cheney,　an　assistant　secretary　at　the　American　State　Department,　had　the　temerity　to　mention　George　Bush's　vision　of　an　Arab　democratic　spring.　“There　will　be　no　spring　or　autumn　or　winter　or　summer　without　solving　the　problem,”　he　thundered.　“We　want　our　friends　in　the　United　States　to　know　that　this　is　the　consensus　in　the　region.”

Mr　Moussa　exaggerates,　as　is　his　wont.　He　is　right　to　say　that　the　Palestinian　cause　resonates　throughout　the　Arab　world.　But　it　is　nonsense　to　say　that　Arabs　want　to　shelve　their　own　democratic　hopes　until　Palestine　is　resolved.　On　the　contrary,　many　Arabs　have　noticed　that　being　a　democracy　has　strengthened　rather　than　weakened　Israel　during　the　long　years　of　conflict.　Impressed　by　recent　elections　in　Iraq　and　the　Palestinian　territories,　and　by　the　“people　power”　that　has　helped　to　shove　Syria's　army　out　of　Lebanon,　most　Arabs　say　in　polls　that　they　would　like　democracy　for　themselves.

If　Mr　Bush　wants　democracy　for　the　Arabs,　and　they　want　it　for　themselves,　why　is　there　no　meeting　of　minds?　Part　of　the　answer　is　indeed　Palestine.　In　Jordan,　the　Arab　audience　winced　every　time　Laura　Bush　(the　president's　wife),　Robert　Zoellick　(deputy　secretary　of　state)　and　Ms　Cheney　(daughter　of　the　vice-president)　mentioned　Mr　Bush's　belief　in　“freedom”.　Arabs　blame　Mr　Bush　for　helping　Israel　to　thwart　Palestinian　self-determination,　for　propping　up　local　dictators　and　other　authoritarians,　and　for　having　invaded　Iraq　in　pursuit　of　oil　or　on　behalf　of　Zionism.　Some　of　this　is　rubbish　and　much　is　unfair　(don't　Arabs　also　bear　some　blame　for　the　Arab-Israeli　conflict?),　but　the　indictment　is　widely　believed　and　will　hinder　America's　democracy　project　until　Mr　Bush　has　delivered　statehood　to　Palestine　and　peace　to　Iraq.

本篇文章共2页，此页为首页　下一页