Iraq Vote May Put Pressure On Arab Nations

AP ^ | January 31, 2005 | SAM F. GHATTAS

[West Coast Conservative]

BEIRUT, Lebanon - Iraq's election, however imperfect, could increase pressure on other authoritarian Arab countries to begin political reforms and hold free balloting.

"The Americans were able to hold elections in Iraq and that made them much more comfortable in carrying on with their policies in the Middle East," said Lebanese political analyst Ali Hamadeh. "They showed everybody that you can carry on with an electoral process even when you have security problems."

Hamadeh said the message of the election is that if Iraq could carry out "an all-weather democratic process" there is no excuse for other countries not to reform.

Many are feeling the pressure at least to make a show of democratic reform, and 2005 is shaping up to be the year of Middle East elections, even if few of them are expected to threaten the established regimes.

The Palestinians held a poll — widely praised, despite a few irregularities — that brought Mahmoud Abbas to power earlier this month to replace the late Yasser Arafat.

Saudi Arabia, an absolute monarchy, will hold its first municipal elections in 45 years beginning Feb. 10 — a vote postponed from September.

A parliamentary election in Lebanon, expected by May, will test Syria's grip on the country as the West pushes Damascus to withdraw its army. Three previous elections were influenced deeply by Syria, which will face pressure to back off.

Egypt, the Arab world's most populous country, holds presidential and parliamentary elections later this year, although the presidential vote is essentially a referendum on one candidate approved by a parliament dominated by President Hosni Mubarak's party. Mubarak, 76 and in power since 1981, is seeking a fifth six-year term despite calls to retire.

[West Coast Conservative]

Bush's fault.

[mainepatsfan]

The MSM is just now figuring this out?

[eureka!]

Memo to Sam Ghattas: That was the whole freaking point, Einstein.....

[elhombrelibre]

Let's see if this makes the evening news, or if we get more of Kerry and Kennedy telling us why Iraq needs to be turned over to al Zarquai.

[RetiredArmy]

Rut row. Freedom is a contagious thing, it is, it is. Too bad democrats in this country don't believe in that principal.

[massgopguy]

What and give them an alternative to the spread of Wahabism? That could put an end to Islamo-Facist Terror.

[timydnuc]

"May put pressure, MAY PUT PRESSURE". Man, you guys at the AP really should start paying attention to little things like WORLD AFFAIRS. Isn't that your job, or do you get paid for staying in expensive hotel rooms in far off lands and making your s%^t up. My vote is for the latter.

Lazy, drunk, stupid, and socialist is no way to go through life.

[Valin]

Iraq Vote May WILL Put Pressure On Arab Nations.