Democracy Spreads - It's Bush's Fault!

Gary66 · Joined: Sep 01, 2005 Posts: 8353

Quote:

"When the people realize they have the power to expose the deceit underlying a government prone to repression, it is the beginning of that regime's end." - Peter Ackerman, The Boston Globe

A resilient, yet experimental venture by the Bush Administration into uncharted waters has proven largely beneficial, as democracy sweeps several countries once held captive by tyrants. The winds of change are blowing across the world as jubilant demonstrators take back their God-given right to freedom, once denied by fascist dictators. An unshakeable vision of international democracy in coordination with the deep desire of people around the world to be free has led to elections throughout the Middle East and the former Soviet Union.

In Georgia, a fraud-plagued election led to peaceful protests by thousands against President Eduard Shevardnadze. President Shevardnadze, forced to succumb to the rightful demands of the people, stepped down, thus paving the way for elections in the former Soviet state. The revolution in Georgia (the Rose Revolution) opened the floodgates to several subsequent democratic revolts within the region. President Bush’s visit to Georgia was welcomed by hundreds of thousands who labeled him the "Great Liberator".

In Ukraine, fraudulent election results in November led to a mass popular movement around opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko. Peter Ackerman of the Boston Globe wrote, "in the wake of what was widely perceived as a corrupt election on Nov. 21, Ukrainians took to the streets - wearing orange clothing as a symbol of solidarity with Yushchenko’s campaign - and demanded a new vote. Public figures ranging from policemen to news broadcasters defected from the government’s party line and openly expressed agreement with Yushchenko’s movement." Largely welcomed by the Bush Administration, Yushchenko was elected President of Ukraine in a free and fair democratic election in December.

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kenmabmcc

Thats good.

Palestinians elect a Hamas majority government.

Democracy Spreads.

Lebanese elects Hezbollah representatives to government.

Democracy Spreads.

Thats good.

Phil_J · Joined: May 31, 2006 Posts: 256 Location: Manchester, UK

I'm not sure if Ken is suggesting that the spread of democracy is a bad thing, in a true democracy people do have the option of choosing poorly, but that's the price you pay, I can think of no truly benevolant dictatorships.

I do take issue with the article itself though, it seems to credit the Bush administration with a number of events which seem to be almost entirely due to the activism of citizens of the various countries. The most pronounced example of this is the Ukranian elections, where it appears there was no US involvement other than welcoming the new President once he was elected.

Of the seven examples given, only the last three potentially show the birth of new democracies, and I suspect a strong US influence only in the Saudi Municipal elections.

Gary66 · Joined: Sep 01, 2005 Posts: 8353

The article does not say that Bush caused all of this just that it is his fault.