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Can Hamas and Hezbollah be Democratic?
FrontPageMagazine.com ^ | March 22, 2005 | Daniel Pipes

Posted on 03/22/2005 7:37:05 AM PST by Marguerite

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If al-Qaeda renounced terrorism, would the U.S. government welcome its running candidates in American elections?
1 posted on 03/22/2005 7:37:05 AM PST by Marguerite
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To: Marguerite

How about communists?


2 posted on 03/22/2005 7:41:48 AM PST by ex-snook (Exporting jobs and the money to buy America is lose-lose..)
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To: Marguerite

What kind of stupid question is this ??

The answer is "Hell NO "


3 posted on 03/22/2005 7:43:06 AM PST by Zenith
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To: ex-snook

What about them?


4 posted on 03/22/2005 7:43:44 AM PST by Marguerite
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To: Marguerite
Can Hamas and Hezbollah be Democratic?

Sure, if "Democratic" is defined as meaning the same thing that "Democratic" means in the United States. But like the U.S. "Democratic" party, neither Hamas or Hezbollah respect any facet of the definition of democratic politics. It is all about using muscle to impose your will on people who would never have willingly accepted your original objectives.

5 posted on 03/22/2005 7:45:50 AM PST by alloysteel ("Master of the painfully obvious.....")
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"Hamas a Palestinian organization, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice noted, could also evolve in the right direction once it enters the democratic process"

Mrs.Rice should read the Hamas Charter first.

http://www.mideastweb.org/hamas.htm


6 posted on 03/22/2005 7:46:34 AM PST by Marguerite
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To: Marguerite
Democratic, probably not.

Democrats, absolutely ;)

7 posted on 03/22/2005 7:47:29 AM PST by Mr. Mojo
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To: Zenith

The answer is "Hell NO "

Tell that to Mrs.Rice. She seems to think otherwise.


8 posted on 03/22/2005 7:48:16 AM PST by Marguerite
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To: Zenith

White House spokesman Scott McClellan then elaborated on this comment by specifying the two alternatives: “organizations like Hezbollah have to choose, either you’re a terrorist organization or you’re a political organization.”


9 posted on 03/22/2005 7:49:25 AM PST by Marguerite
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To: ex-snook
"What about them? [communists]"

Can communists be democratic?

10 posted on 03/22/2005 7:53:19 AM PST by ex-snook (Exporting jobs and the money to buy America is lose-lose..)
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To: ex-snook

No.


11 posted on 03/22/2005 7:54:31 AM PST by Marguerite
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To: Marguerite
"No"

I agree but wonder why Pipes left Communists out [Stalin, Chinese].

12 posted on 03/22/2005 7:59:20 AM PST by ex-snook (Exporting jobs and the money to buy America is lose-lose..)
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To: ex-snook

Because Daniel Pipes is an expert in the Middle East affairs, that's why.


13 posted on 03/22/2005 8:02:17 AM PST by Marguerite
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To: Marguerite
"Because Daniel Pipes is an expert in the Middle East affairs, that's why."

Read it again and see if Pipes writes about other than the ME. He ignored Communists so fogitaboudit.

14 posted on 03/22/2005 8:08:18 AM PST by ex-snook (Exporting jobs and the money to buy America is lose-lose..)
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To: Marguerite
"Because Daniel Pipes is an expert in the Middle East affairs, that's why."

Read it again and see if Pipes writes about other than the ME. He ignored Communists so fogitaboudit.

15 posted on 03/22/2005 8:09:29 AM PST by ex-snook (Exporting jobs and the money to buy America is lose-lose..)
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To: Marguerite
Can Hamas and Hezbollah be Democratic?

If they stay true to the islamist philosophy of 'convert to islam or die', then NO.
16 posted on 03/22/2005 8:10:10 AM PST by reagan_fanatic ("Darwinism is a belief in the meaninglessness of existence" - R. Kirk)
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To: ex-snook

Daniel Pipes is director of the Middle East Forum and a prize-winning columnist for the New York Sun and The Jerusalem Post. His most recent book, Miniatures: Views of Islamic and Middle Eastern Politics appeared in late 2003. His website, DanielPipes.org, is the single most accessed source of specialized information on the Middle East and Islam.

He received his A.B. (1971) and Ph.D. (1978) from Harvard University, both in history. He spent six years studying abroad, including three years in Egypt.


17 posted on 03/22/2005 8:12:49 AM PST by Marguerite
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"President George W. Bush stated that although Hezbollah, a Lebanese group, is “a terrorist organization,” he hopes it will change that designation “by laying down arms and not threatening peace.”"

Hezbollah's leader rejected a suggestion by President Bush that the militant group disarm and enter the political mainstream.

"We are ready to remain until the end of time a terrorist organization in Bush's view, but we are not ready to give up protection of our country, our people, their blood and their honor," Nasrallah said.


18 posted on 03/22/2005 8:21:34 AM PST by Marguerite
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To: Marguerite

There is a couple of advantages to having these groups to forming political parties and being elected to national governing political postitions.

We (the SU) could distinctly identify and decapitate the leaders of our enemies and invite the country to try again with more elections.

Also, they need to denounce terrorism and change their name prior to elections. Otherwise, the are enemies of the US and they will be killed and have the country try again with more elections.


19 posted on 03/22/2005 8:23:21 AM PST by Tenacious 1 (Democrates: "It can't be done?" Rep. "Move, we'll find a way or make a way. It has to be done!")
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To: Tenacious 1

As long as Hamas doesn't renounce its Charter, they can take part in zillions elections, they remain terrorists as before. JMO


20 posted on 03/22/2005 8:26:26 AM PST by Marguerite
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