Egypt: Maybe Dubya was right about Iraq after all!

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Bush vows democracy for Iraq and Middle East

19 November 2003: Press Association

President Bush vowed to bring democracy to Iraq and the wider Middle East, as he stressed the US-led coalition was not looking for an early exit from Baghdad.

"We did not charge hundreds of miles into the heart of Iraq and pay a bitter cost of causalities and liberate 25 million people only to retreat before a band of thugs and assassins," he told an audience of foreign policy and defence experts in London’s Banqueting House.

In the only keynote speech of his state visit to Britain, the President stressed the "three pillars" on which he believed the peace and security of the free world were based.

These were vigorous multi-lateral institutions such as the United Nations and Nato, the willingness to use force to overcome tyranny as a last resort, and the spread of democracy across the world.

Mr Bush insisted that the US would not pull out of Iraq or Afghanistan until democracy was entrenched in those countries.

He said: "We will meet our responsibilities in Afghanistan and Iraq, by finishing the work of democracy we have begun."

Mr Bush, who was given a standing ovation for his 40-minute speech, said it was time for the West to take a more critical attitude towards regimes in the Middle East.

He said that in the Middle East "we will consistently challenge the enemies of reform and confront the allies of terror. We will expect a higher standard from our friends in the region."

Mr Bush acknowledged that the movement of Middle Eastern countries towards democracy would not be achieved overnight.

But he added: "That is beginning to change. In an arc of reform from Morocco to Jordan and Qatar, we are seeing elections and new protections for women and the stirrings of political pluralism.

"Many governments are realising that theocracy and dictatorship do not lead to national greatness. They end in national ruin."

http://www.iiss.org/recent-key-addresses/president-bush-delivers-iiss-address/press-coverage/bush-vows-democracy-for-iraq-and-middle-east

[웃 910]

I think so

[luckytxn 2,264]

We should never force democracy by the point of a gun. If the people want it so bad then go out there and do what it takes like have massive protests. Yes there may be risks in some countries to do this but when the opposite side starts bashing heads and you keep protesting that shows them something. If they escalate and start shooting and you keep protesting that shows the the opposite and the world you are serious. The people don't do anything then they deserve their fate in life.

[peejay 327]

We should never force democracy by the point of a gun. If the people want it so bad then go out there and do what it takes like have massive protests. Yes there may be risks in some countries to do this but when the opposite side starts bashing heads and you keep protesting that shows them something. If they escalate and start shooting and you keep protesting that shows the the opposite and the world you are serious. The people don't do anything then they deserve their fate in life.

Not only that, but America no longer can afford to continue to spend money on these expensive adventures.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I don't see how what happened in Egypt is any validation of Dubya's regime-change by force policy.

[mendeleev 68]

The Iranian revolution also started as a broad-based call for democracy. Islamists consolidated control only later. In both cases, an American-backed despot was deposed by popular revolt. The similarities in Egypt, superficially, are more like Iran than Iraq. That's hope the Egyptian path going forward is different and becomes genuinely pluralist.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

I don't see how what happened in Egypt is any validation of Dubya's regime-change by force policy.

It doesn't, but it is clever RWN strategery just in case the Egyptian Revolution is a roaring secular democratic success. If Egypt goes Radical Islamist they will drop this line and stick to the very popular among RWN's theory that Obama and his Cairo speech caused it.

Edited February 13, 2011 by ready4ONE

[peejay 327]

It doesn't, but it is clever RWN strategery just in case the Egyptian Revolution is a roaring secular democratic success. If Egypt goes Radical Islamist they will drop this line and stick to the very popular among RWN's theory that Obama and his Cairo speech caused it.

Same as the LWN's...they will spin the record to play the tune they want to hear.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

Same as the LWN's...they will spin the record to play the tune they want to hear.

Ummm... Neener neener neener?

[Danno 1,228]

BUsh may well end up being right... and we may well end up wishing he wasn't.

[Peikko 1,575]

I'm guessing you think Bush was right on everything apart from the third pillar?

Edited February 13, 2011 by Madame Cleo

[Samoray 165]

Bush vows democracy for Iraq and Middle East

19 November 2003: Press Association

President Bush vowed to bring democracy to Iraq and the wider Middle East, as he stressed the US-led coalition was not looking for an early exit from Baghdad.

"We did not charge hundreds of miles into the heart of Iraq and pay a bitter cost of causalities and liberate 25 million people only to retreat before a band of thugs and assassins," he told an audience of foreign policy and defence experts in London's Banqueting House.

In the only keynote speech of his state visit to Britain, the President stressed the "three pillars" on which he believed the peace and security of the free world were based.

These were vigorous multi-lateral institutions such as the United Nations and Nato, the willingness to use force to overcome tyranny as a last resort, and the spread of democracy across the world.

Mr Bush insisted that the US would not pull out of Iraq or Afghanistan until democracy was entrenched in those countries.

He said: "We will meet our responsibilities in Afghanistan and Iraq, by finishing the work of democracy we have begun."

Mr Bush, who was given a standing ovation for his 40-minute speech, said it was time for the West to take a more critical attitude towards regimes in the Middle East.

He said that in the Middle East "we will consistently challenge the enemies of reform and confront the allies of terror. We will expect a higher standard from our friends in the region."

Mr Bush acknowledged that the movement of Middle Eastern countries towards democracy would not be achieved overnight.

But he added: "That is beginning to change. In an arc of reform from Morocco to Jordan and Qatar, we are seeing elections and new protections for women and the stirrings of political pluralism.

"Many governments are realising that theocracy and dictatorship do not lead to national greatness. They end in national ruin."

http://www.iiss.org/...and-middle-east

Yeah Right