No comments? Any reason for this old article? I certainly agree with what it says..
Problem is the islamists are gaining power thru the ballot now. ike in the aborted algerian polls "one man, one vote, one time" was the result and the military stepped in just as the islamists were cruising to a landslide.
I wish Jon Stewart would "implode". I don't see how anyone thinks he is funny {you know the ha ha funny kind of funny}.
You had one corrupt Palestinian faction, Fatah, that pretended it wasn't a terrorist organization when it was, and you have Hamas, who doesn't bother pretending.
And all those who used to blow kisses at Arafat now must face up to the true nature of the Palestinians, who just voted Hamas into power - a majority of them will never accept Israel and is willing to condone terrorism. Which actually simplifies dealing with them, because there are no more illusions for liberals and Euro-weenies to hide behind.
In other words, democracy has made it impossible to prended the Palestinians are something other than what they are.
Time Magazine???
I don't look at the the election of Hamas as anything but a victory for terrorists. Likewise the "elections" in Iran. If people are "electing" Islamofascists, the area is certainly transformed, but in what direction?
Daniel Schorr? The news commentator who seldom spoke the truth?
The contemporary of Eric Severride, Robert Trout and Lowell Thomas?
Is he still alive?
>>>I argued in these pages that forcefully deposing Saddam Hussein was, more than anything, about America "coming ashore" to effect a "pan-Arab reformation"--a dangerous, "risky and, yes, arrogant" but necessary attempt to change the very culture of the Middle East, to open its doors to democracy and modernity.<<<
Oh, yes, that was all your idea Krauthammer...
And your reason for 7 month old article is ...????
The first elections *last year* in Palestine *did* produce a result of more accomodating leadership. It also was corrupt.
The Gaza pullout and Fatah corruption and other factors helped Hamas politically. This doesnt make CK's main point less valid, which is that democracy is an agent of change for the better in the Arab world. What we see in Palestine is a fanaticism that is absent in other places. Obviously the Islamist agenda has won there. For Now. But it's a flawed and failed ideology that will implode on itself now that it is given the responsibility of governing instead of merely the change to wreak havoc.
An 'elected' terrorist leadership of palestine only gives us more clarity and honesty about what Palestinians really want and how realistic peace really is. Even better, the Government is on the hook to deliver for their people. If it retains terrorism as its mode of operation, it will fail. We lived with the farce of the PA 'trying' to stop terrorism. Hamas was bad cop, PA 'good cop' - we were suckers.
On balance, Arab democracy is a very good thing for us and for the world. The governments can no longer hide behind the excuses about the 'arab street' and the people can no longer claim they are powerless to make change.
If palestinians want war, then war it shall be.