The Democratic Boom: Kiev to Baghdad: Diverse people chase the same goal (Excellent Read)

Opinionjournal.com ^ | December 10, 2004 | DANIEL HENNINGER

[Area Freeper]

The most stirring democratic event since the transformations after the fall of the Berlin Wall is occurring now in Kiev's Maidan Square. "Maidan" is Ukrainian for "independence." This is the Orange Revolution, which the whole world has witnessed and, more importantly, adopted. Western European governments support the claims of the opposition, editorialists applaud their aspirations to join the ranks of free, self-determined people.

Will they now do the same come January 30 for the people of Iraq?

Ukraine's experience has become a democratic benchmark. By briefly overlaying Iraq on Ukraine, we may better understand Iraq's prospects. Vladimir Putin last week mocked the likelihood of a real democratic event happening in Iraq next month. An expert opinion.

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Iraq's instability, notably in the country's center, is well advertised by now. Less appreciated, however, is Iraq's growing measure of economic stability and vitality. "Baghdad is booming," says Mohammed Fadhil Ali, one of three remarkable Ali brothers who oversee the Web log, Iraqthemodel.com. Mohammed and his younger brother Omar came this week to the Journal's offices, their first trip to the States, to discuss Iraq's future.

They were not overwhelmed by New York's holiday crush; Baghdad's population is roughly 5.7 million people. Stores there are overflowing with goods and the streets jammed with shoppers. It appears that the number of cars has doubled in a year. "The middle class is growing," says Omar. After the April 9, 2003, "liberation," Mohammed was determined to photograph every new building in Baghdad. "Now there is a new building in Baghdad every day; I can't count them all." Land and real-estate prices are surging. Most of the investment is coming out of the Arab world, not the West.

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[timtoews5292004]

wonderful article. I for one am excited about the prospects for Iraq, socially and economically.

As an aside, reading the article, I am surprised that WSJ readers would not know about McLuhans work, and the reasons for the title. Some half-wit grammar/spelling nazi needs to get out more. McLuhans' work has as much bearing on society today as it did 30+ years ago when it was first written.