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In a nutshell, the veil of fear was cast off of the populations and their leaders have it. There are only two motivations of a dictator: fear and power. Only fear will motivate them into concession. In Saddam's case, he did not fear the US invasion because he had no reason to (Clinton/Europe). That invasion prompted Libya to give up their WMD programs because the fashion-brain-dead dictator feared the US.

The populations were skeptical of what was going on in Iraq until the Iraqi elections. This was the tipping point in the hearts and minds of other populations. The courage of the Iraqi people is spreading. Now all it will take in other countries to stand up to their dictators is a 'trigger event' such as an assassination that happened in Lebannon. All revolutions require a one; they are not spontaneous. It will be interesting what is going to be the trigger event in Iran.

On the other hand, the only country that no one is talking about -including the President- is Pakistan. The dictator Musharraf is getting a pass from the US and the international community.

I don't think it's any coincidence, either, that after the November election, seeing that America has the resolve (even if only barely) to see the fight through, much of this starts happening.

I seriously doubt that if Kerry had won, that we'd be seeing any of this happen.

Interesting analysis, esp. in regard to Pakistan. But...with other countries nearby achieving unheard of democratic freedoms, even baby steps, how long before Musharraf is forced to follow suit? You're dead on about Iran, too. Something will spark a revolution, some event, something to start Iranians thinking, 'Hey, why not us, too? What are we...Swiss cheese?' These certainly are amazing times.

It's quite amusing to see the dems on tv, twisting themselves into knots, trying to climb on GW's democracy/freedom bandwagon for the Middle East, at the same time not granting him one iota of praise. A little slimy double talk. No integrity, no ideas, no morals, no nothing.