Arab leaders to develop own plan for reform (as a result of Bush policies)

Globe and Mail ^ | May 22, 2004 | MARK MacKINNON

[FairOpinion]

Amman — Leaders of the world's 22 Arab countries gather today, anxious to develop their own reform program for the Middle East before U.S. President George W. Bush rolls out his proposals to overhaul the region's political scene.

Many Arab politicians are insulted by Mr. Bush's plans to unveil his so-called Greater Middle East Initiative, a strategy to promote political and economic change in the region, at the Group of Eight meeting in June at Sea Island, Ga. They feel any changes must be driven from within. At the same time, they say they understand the need for the overhaul is becoming critical, as the impoverished and repressed populations of many countries in the region become more restless.

A draft document the summit is expected to endorse, titled Development and Modernization for the Arab World, calls for an expansion of democracy, freedom of expression and the rule of law throughout the region. However, it's said to be short on specific plans to achieve those lofty goals, and contains no target dates.

[FairOpinion]

Another clear positive result of Bush's policies. This would never be happening otherwise.

[FairOpinion]

A Bush policy and Iraq war good news ping.

Bush is succeeding in pushing the ME to reform themselves, by showing that if they don't, we may do it for them.

[McGavin999]

Well they had better hurry, we're almost done in Iraq and will have time on our hands. You know the old saying "Busy hands are happy hands" :o)

[EGPWS]

Bush is succeeding in pushing the ME to reform themselves, by showing that if they don't, we may do it for them.

Keen perception FO, for NOW the ME is showing reform, for WE are no longer reforming to the rest of the world.

It's taking time for us to see the changes because of Bush policy, but then good things always take time to be permanent and meaningful.

[MJY1288]

Despite all the bad news being reported about our occupation of Iraq, there are ten times more good things happening on the ground in Iraq. The Partisan Press ignore these stories because it doesn't fit with their Agenda. But the Arab leaders in the Mid East have got to be worried about the probability that the Iraqi people are going to have a say about who leads them, with their vote.

My guess is that this article is proof that the Arab leaders are trying to get out in front of the winds of freedom spreading in the region. We must see this through to absolute victory, NOTHING LESS

[MJY1288]

"for NOW the ME is showing reform"

Without a doubt......

....45 million people liberated from the Taliban and Saddam
....Libya has turned over their WMD's and related materials
.....Over half of the Al-Qaeda leaders have been neutralized
.....Constitutions are being implimented in Afghanistan and Iraq
.....Saddam in cuffs and his two evil Sons are Graveyard DEAD
.....Pakistan's AQ Kahn has been forced to shut down his WMD material and design global garage sale.
.....Yassir Arafat.......... anybody heard from him?
.....Jordan uncovering Al-Qaeda attack plans....

Yet the Partisan Press chooses to focus all their reporting on naked Iraqi and Al-Qaeda terror suspects being roughed up and humiliated in the Abu Graib Prison.

[ARepublicanForAllReasons]

BUMP!

Great tagline.

[freedom44]

Encouraging news.

Lasting reform has to come from within the country especially when we're dealing with nationalist governments.

Non arab leaders like Ataturk were able to surmount a successful Secular fairly democratic government in Turkey without foreign intervention.

In Arab governments this process will not occur overnight and some countries will "reform" far more than others, also some countries have been reforming such as Jordan, Morocco, and Tuninsia.

[FairOpinion]

I think as we succeed in Iraq, and we will, this will encourage the people of other countries, like Iran to throw down their shackles.

I think if it weren't for the fiasco created by the media and Democrats about Iraq, we would be taking more aggressive steps to help the Iranian people get rid of the terrorist supporting Mullah's.

[bayourod]

A regional approach to disarming terrorist is essential. Arab rulers allow terrorists to operate in their countries in exchange for promises that they will not overthrow their regimes. It's just a protection racket.

As long as the terrorists can operate out of even one nation in the area, no other nation can afford to oppose them.

But tyeing democracy and civil rights and the Israel issue to denying terrorists sanctuary will prevent any agreement.

[MJY1288]

When the Mullahs of Iran are driven from their positions of power, that will be the Domino that starts the downfall of Radical Islam. The world is getting tired of seeing innocent people getting killed in the name of these radicals. At some point, rational thinking religious leaders in the ME will be forced to stand up to the Jihadist in order to save themselves from total destruction.

I would love to see the results of a Nexus Lexus search on deadly attacks on innocent civilians..... I would bet a large sum of money that over 98% of the deaths of the innocent in the world today, come from radical Islam. At some point, the world will say, "That's it, it's time to kill them all"

[GrandMoM]

BUMP

[OpusatFR]

You'll never see this on the television.

Of course, I wouldn't know. I never watch the lamestream media, that includes CNN and MSNBC.

[bert]

you left out

..........Kuwati women allowed to vote

[Cultural Jihad]

Also public schools are open in Afghanistan and Iraq again.

[Vigilantcitizen]

Also public schools are open in Afghanistan and Iraq again.

The kids are the most important to win the hearts and minds of.

[ClaireSolt]

It is a self-serving urban legend that authentic reforms must be home grown and not imposed by an outside power. It has no basis in history. In fact, there is much reason to question the wisdom of self-determination we have followed since WWI. There may not be enough political talent in the world to have 250 countries. India and Israel are about the only ones which have been able to implement self-government. Most have declined into brutal dictatorships and there are about 30 wars going on at any given time.

On the other hand, Germany, Japan, and South Korea have developed strong governments and economies under our tutelage. The history of the world shows much progress under empires. In fact, the only long period of peace was the Pax Romana. If the truth were told, we would stop wringing our hands about why AlQaeda hates us. We would realize that Washington is teaming with delegations from all over the world that are begging us to come in and remake their countries in our image. That is what the West Africans and the North Koreans wanted. Why not? We have shown that we can turn heaps of rubble into world leaders and then we leave.

[Terabitten]

Einstein (I believe) once said that the definition of insanity was doing the same thing over and over again, while expecting different results. That has been the US policy for fifty years towards the middle east - talks, talks, talks, talks, talks, talks, talks, talks. Is there anyone who can keep track of the gazillion or so peace plans, initiatives, accords, etc? President Bush changed the paradigm. Talking obviously hadn't worked, so he tried something else. Lo and behold, his approach is working. Iraq and Afghanistan are becoming more free by the day. Libya voluntarily gives up its WMD program. The Islamist government in Iran is teetering on the brink of collapse.

Everything President Bush does goes back to his famous speech on September 13th. When he swore not to ever allow another 9/11, he was looking at the long term. Stopping terrorists at the airport is the LAST line of defense. President Bush intends to stop Islamist terrorism at its very roots, to deny it the ability to exist.

[MEG33]

Good news..Bump!

[MEG33]

Good news ping!