Posted on 07/08/2002 10:00:32 PM PDT by a_Turk
The Bush administration is searching for an Arab model for an Islamic democracy.
The debate concerns how to outline a roadmap for Arab democracy and who should be its models.
U.S. officials said the some senior members in the Bush administration have suggested to some Arab allies of Washington that they should emulate Indonesia, Middle East Newsline reported. But they said neither proposal was welcomed by the Arabs.
"The great majority of the world's Muslims would like to be part of successful, free, democratic, prosperous societies, those that embody what might be called Western values but that are, in fact, universal values," Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz said. "I think success in moderate countries like Turkey or Indonesia can contribute to a larger dynamic. But we need to work on the positive side of this as well as the more negative side of fighting terrorists."
The debate comes amid an attempt to translate President George Bush's call for Palestinian democracy into U.S. policy. Some officials are urging the White House to formulate a policy that links closer Arab economic and military ties into progress toward Arab democracy.
"I think what we can decide for ourselves is that those countries that choose to be on the path of democracy, that chose to be on the path of freedom, that choose to be on the path of economic growth fueled by private enterprise, those are countries that I think represent the future and a future we want to support," Wolfowitz said.
Wolfowitz's approach, outlined at a hearing by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last week is said to be the view of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Vice President Richard Cheney. Officials said Secretary of State Colin Powell does not share that vision.
At the hearing, the link between Arab democracy and U.S. relations was greeted with skepticism. Sen. Chuck Hagel said Arab countries have rejected Turkey as a role model.
"I've heard from others, Arabs, Muslims from around the world, that Turkey isn't necessarily the secular country that many Muslims would emulate," Hagel said. "I happen to be a great supporter of Turkey."
Officials said the United States is not concerned that Arab countries have made Islam into their official religion. They said many European Union countries have adopted Christianity as their official state religion.
"I think the way I look at it, Senator, is there's nothing necessarily contradictory about Islam and democracy," Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said.
Islam and democracy are incompatible. The feeling of most Muslims is that the state is immoral if it is not religious.Ooohh, I know this is going to start another rantfest, but I can't resist!
crash and burnYou wake up one morning only to finally realize that, after all, there really is no Superman.. Just you and a decision of killing a planeload of co-passengers, or letting them die in the flames of the white house.. What a dreadful choice. Those guys have my respect forever.
Typical that that line about Rumsfield and Wolfowitz oppose Powell. I don't believe it. It's a continuing liberal attempt to divide Republicans. I don't mean to say I don't think there is ever disagreement on the team. Disagreement and arguing different points of view passionately are vital to the free democratic republic process.
What America has that is so fleeting to the rest of the world, is our living democratic-republic and rule of law; though what the world sees is wealth.
We have been giving away some of our wealth, when we should have been instructing, not about money markets, but about the business of such foreign peoples' helping each other to establish and enforce their own democratic-republics.
It's not as simple as achieving a popular vote; communist countries have a popular vote.
The success of a democratic-republic is more complex; and understanding the formula, and knowing how to teach it --- that is what we have to offer, and in my humble opinion we should.
Then, why don't they emulate the US? Best constitution in the world.
That's right there are. But not a whole lot. At least not compared to the majority of Muslims who want an establishment of religion.
But you don't have to take my word for it--just look at the empirical evidence--there are many majority christian countries, yet few if any christian states, while of course the correlation between majority Muslim countries and islamic government is almost universal.
correlation between majority Muslim countries and islamic government is almost universalYou're right.. It's all a matter of education.. And assuming an administration in favor of education makes it to power, then the billions upon billions of dollars which are needed to provide that education are missing. Look at the Afghani administration. They're so broke, they can't even pay attention...
I think its going to take a change in cultural direction, but what might cause that beats the heck out of me.
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