This editorial is oversimplified criticsm of the Bush Administration and previous administrations. When you look at the entire world, there is much more protection for individual rights in democracies than in non-democratic dictatorships and communist governments. It's easy to take shots at the disappointing results of democracy in the Middle East. But the dictatorships and mullocracies, such as Saddam's regime and the Iranian regime, have been complete disasters that invaded other countries, strongly supported terrorism, and have run dangerous WMD programs. Conditions are far from ideal for democracy in the Middle East, but some form of democracy is usually better than dictatorships.
Notice how the author writes: "We must make clear that the principle we support is not the unlimited rule of the majority, but the inalienable rights of the individual", but he has no specific suggestions for practical ways to protect the rights of the individual. Also, the US government has made clear that we support the inalienable rights of the individual, but it's not easy to implement that policy in the Middle East. There are numerous protections for individual rights in the new Iraqi constitution, but armed groups in Iraq are not following the constitution and the laws of Iraq.