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Democracy Stalling

By Jeralyn, Section War In Iraq
Posted on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 05:40:01 PM EST
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Raw Story has a scoop on an article to appear in tomorrow's New York Times:

"Just months ago there was cause for optimism about the spread of democracy in the Arab world, with elections held in Iraq, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Palestinian areas," the New York Times plans to report in Monday editions, RAW STORY has learned. "But the momentum is fast ebbing, with delays in reform efforts, legal maneuvers and official changes of heart throughout the Middle East."

"The unexpected rise of Islamists, the newfound power of Shiites in Iraq with the implication of growing Iranian influence, and the sense among some rulers that they can wait out the end of the Bush administration -- which has begun facing domestic and Republican criticism for its focus on forcing democracy -- have all put the brakes on democratization, analysts and officials say."

An Administration official responds:

"Democratic development isn't always linear," said a senior State Department official, insisting on anonymity in commenting for this article.

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    Democracy Stalling | 16 comments (16 topical)
    Re: Democracy Stalling (none / 0) (#1)
    by soccerdad on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 06:16:02 PM EST
    The neocons answer to this will be to bomb them. Remember when Rumsfield said "They will eventually get tired of being killed"

    Re: Democracy Stalling (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 06:33:29 PM EST
    Does anybody think that there exists a "Senior State Department Official..." who knows what the word 'linear' actually means. I don't.

    Re: Democracy Stalling (none / 0) (#3)
    by Al on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 06:37:23 PM EST
    What is the New York Times on about? "The unexpected rise of Islamists"? Unexpected for whom? Democracy in Iraq? There is no government in Iraq, democratic or otherwise. Egypt has never been accused of being a democracy. Democracy in Saudi Arabia, where women aren't allowed to drive cars? You're kidding, right? I have to say there was a democratic vote in Palestine, but then the west and Israel don't like the winners.

    Re: Democracy Stalling (none / 0) (#4)
    by soccerdad on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 06:39:03 PM EST
    Elections only count if we like the winners. Get with the program

    Re: Democracy Stalling (none / 0) (#5)
    by Kevin Hayden on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 07:56:36 PM EST
    War profiteering is definitely more linear.

    Re: Democracy Stalling (none / 0) (#6)
    by Kevin Hayden on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 07:57:10 PM EST
    War profiteering is definitely more linear.

    Re: Democracy Stalling (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 08:19:18 PM EST
    No, they only count if dick likes the winners. Get with the program.

    Re: Democracy Stalling (none / 0) (#8)
    by scarshapedstar on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 10:20:32 PM EST
    The unexpected rise of Islamists
    Please tell me this is a late April Fool's joke.

    Re: Democracy Stalling (none / 0) (#9)
    by Edger on Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 12:31:41 AM EST
    "Democratic development isn't always linear," said a senior State Department official Oh. Well. That's good. I was almost a little bit slightly concerned there for a minute. But everything is going according to plan. Give it time. Mission almost accomplished. Right?

    Re: Democracy Stalling (none / 0) (#10)
    by soccerdad on Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 03:40:25 AM EST
    Charlie right you are

    Re: Democracy Stalling (none / 0) (#11)
    by SeeEmDee on Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 04:50:50 AM EST
    "The unexpected rise of Islamists, the newfound power of Shiites in Iraq with the implication of growing Iranian influence..." 'Unexpected'. Unexpected? 'Unexpected' by whom? The reason given for Georgie 1's not driving to Baghdad in the First Gulf War was to The very same regional instability Georgie Too has caused, despite the best work of all those since-purged intel analysts warning him not to rush in where angels feared to parachute. 'Unexpected', by hairy tochis... I will never forget while working for a Beltway Bandit company with ties to the Pentagon during the invasion when one of the company wargamer wonks burst into the office just after those aluminum tubes were found. Excited, in an almost desperate fashion, she kept asking "How they found them yet? Have they?". Meaning, have they found the justification for the invasion yet. I knew then, with that level of almost hysterical hoping-against-hope on the part of someone who was supposed to be in-the-know, that something was seriously wrong. Everything that's happened since then has only confirmed my opinion. This Administration jumped off a cliff, thanks to the PNAC'ers agenda and reliance on questionable intel from the aptly-named "Curveball" source, and we may all find ourselves going down with it.

    Re: Democracy Stalling (none / 0) (#12)
    by SeeEmDee on Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 05:00:37 AM EST
    Sorry, meant, "Have they found them yet?".

    Re: Democracy Stalling (none / 0) (#13)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 11:06:32 AM EST
    "Just months ago there was cause for optimism about the spread of democracy in the Arab world, with elections held in Iraq, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Palestinian areas
    Optimism where? I certainly don't ever remember seeing anything like that here on TL.

    Re: Democracy Stalling (none / 0) (#14)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 11:35:49 AM EST
    Posted by sarcastic unnamed one April 10, 2006 12:06 PM "Just months ago there was cause for optimism about the spread of democracy in the Arab world, with elections held in Iraq, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Palestinian areas
    Optimism where? I certainly don't ever remember seeing anything like that here on TL.
    Yeah, that's our suo. It's Jeralyn's fault they still don't have a damned Government formed from the elections they had before Christmas. Easter's not 'til Sunday! And they wonder why the polls are down to an all time low for this moron.

    Re: Democracy Stalling (none / 0) (#15)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 11:41:17 AM EST
    charliedon'tread strikes again.

    Re: Democracy Stalling (none / 0) (#16)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 11:56:31 AM EST
    Oh, so I misread, eh? So there is a Government in Iraq, eh, Suo? The World will be very pleased to hear that. I'm sure the Media will want to contact you. You're going to be a very busy man. Good luck. You're going to need it.

    Democracy Stalling | 16 comments (16 topical)