Middle East in Middle and Democracy in Question

[cheatercock]

Phase 0

Warm praise for Musharraf in US

President George W Bush has warmly welcomed visiting Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf as a key ally against terrorism.
"Together our nations will continue to cooperate against terror and trafficking in drugs," Mr Bush said at a joint news conference with General Musharraf in Washington.
Mr Bush pledged help towards erasing $1bn of Pakistani debt.

Phase 1

Bush demands Mid-East democracy

Bush: Tough message for Middle East leaders
President George W Bush has deplored the "freedom deficit" in the Middle East and said the United States must remain focused on the region "for decades".

"Our commitment to democracy is being tested in the Middle East," he said in a televised Washington speech in defence of US democracy.

Phase 2

Hamas sweeps to election victory

Islamic militant group Hamas has won a surprise victory in Wednesday's Palestinian parliamentary elections.

Phase 3

Bush warns US may cut aid to Palestinians

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States warned on Friday it may cut back its $234 million aid earmarked for Palestinians this year because the militant group Hamas was expected to form a new Palestinian government.

The Question

Democracy is the government of the people, by the people, for the people. - Abraham Lincoln

or

Democracy is the government of the US, by the US, for the US. - George Bush

[Wham]

I couldn't agree more. The US hypocracy on democracy has possibly crossed the "tipping point" to the degree that Hugo Chavez and the Iranians are using the American hypocracy to expose the weakness in American foreign policy. For example, the "one off" compromises that were made during the cold war such as supporting Marcos and Suharto in the name of anti communism set the stage for more and more confusing levels of like and dislikes to the point where it is now just blatantly clear that it all apparently boils down to oil and money.

I like to ask conxervative friends who is a more reliable souce of oil? Venezuela or Nigeria. America may not like Hugo Chavez, but my impression is that he is doing a lot more for the poor than the Nigerian government is.

What upsets me the most is that the US is making out democratically elected leftist governments as worse than a Wahibist Radical Islamic Kingdom. It is hypocritical beyond belief.

[cheatercock]

Not to forget the fact that once upon a time US supported Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin laden.

[cheatercock]

U.S. and Israelis Are Said to Talk of Hamas Ouster

By STEVEN ERLANGER
Published: February 14, 2006
JERUSALEM, Feb. 13 — The United States and Israel are discussing ways to destabilize the Palestinian government so that newly elected Hamas officials will fail and elections will be called again, according to Israeli officials and Western diplomats.

The complete article
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Inching closer to democracy
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[Wham]

great... Just what we need. Another massive policy failure.