Monday, January 30, 2006
Editorial RhetIraq: Democracy in Middle East
Who: Tariq Alhomayed, Editor-in-Chief of Asharq Al-Awsat
Source: Asharq Al-Awsat
Quotes: From editorial titled, "Optimism or Pessimism?"
Those who have been critical about democracy in the Arab world, considered it an American creation and an attempt by the West to surround the region in order to control it once again, are the ones to have benefited; they are now victorious.
Some have reached the gates power, others gained legislative powers while another group became legitimate through the ballot box. We have seen this in Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, even if only in municipal elections, and finally with Hamas in Palestine. Therefore, everyone who was critical has been victorious, at a time when Washington claimed that one of the reasons for extremism in the Arab world is the absence of democracy, which will undoubtedly bring about moderates to power.
However, the opposite has happened. Extremists have come to power and political Islam has returned to the scene, this time not through cassettes or publications or outlawed groups but through the ballot box. Those in the Arab world who used to falsely claim that these currents did not seek power have been proven wrong. These groups have seized power as the first winds of democracy swept the region, following the September 11 attacks.
Source: Asharq Al-Awsat
Quotes: From editorial titled, "Optimism or Pessimism?"
Those who have been critical about democracy in the Arab world, considered it an American creation and an attempt by the West to surround the region in order to control it once again, are the ones to have benefited; they are now victorious.
Some have reached the gates power, others gained legislative powers while another group became legitimate through the ballot box. We have seen this in Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, even if only in municipal elections, and finally with Hamas in Palestine. Therefore, everyone who was critical has been victorious, at a time when Washington claimed that one of the reasons for extremism in the Arab world is the absence of democracy, which will undoubtedly bring about moderates to power.
However, the opposite has happened. Extremists have come to power and political Islam has returned to the scene, this time not through cassettes or publications or outlawed groups but through the ballot box. Those in the Arab world who used to falsely claim that these currents did not seek power have been proven wrong. These groups have seized power as the first winds of democracy swept the region, following the September 11 attacks.
