Abandoning our democratic allies

[one...two...tree 2,762]

David Schenker, Boston Globe

....

Arab liberals recognize that Washington is backing away from its democracy agenda and understand the implications. While the administration cannot be faulted for looking for new remedies to the ills of the region, abandoning Middle East democrats -- that small, persecuted minority of Arabs who actually share US values -- is not a winning long-term strategy. Not only are these courageous individuals subject to government reprisals in the region, the US policy shift serves as confirmation that Washington is an unreliable ally. The result, of course, is that Arab democrats will be less likely to challenge their governments in the future.

While the administration's policy of supporting democrats has not been as successful as had been hoped, US experience in the Middle East suggests that a return to the old policy of relying on autocrats is not the answer. A more pragmatic approach may be warranted, but Washington need not abandon its democratic allies in the process. The current policy serves neither US allies nor US interests in the region.

David Schenker is a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. From 2002 to 2006, he was the Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestinian affairs adviser in the office of the secretary of defense.

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial..._allies?mode=PF

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Last I checked, there were a maximum of two nations (Israel and Turkey) in the entire Muddle East that could even validly claim to be democracies.

Every Arab nation known is either monarchy or dictatorship.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Last I checked, there were a maximum of two nations (Israel and Turkey) in the entire Muddle East that could even validly claim to be democracies.

Every Arab nation known is either monarchy or dictatorship.

Congratulations on completely missing the point!

The result, of course, is that Arab democrats will be less likely to challenge their governments in the future.

We're talking about the US abandoning the democrats within the undemocratic Arab states...

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Last I checked, there were a maximum of two nations (Israel and Turkey) in the entire Muddle East that could even validly claim to be democracies.

Every Arab nation known is either monarchy or dictatorship.

Congratulations on completely missing the point!

Name even one Muslim-majority nation other than Bangladesh and Turkey (even these, I have to stretch quite a bit to qualify) that has actually had a democratic government which has not been overthrown by coup.

Basically, the only "democratic Arabs" are in Israel "proper"; nowhere else in the Arab world can the concept even take root.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Last I checked, there were a maximum of two nations (Israel and Turkey) in the entire Muddle East that could even validly claim to be democracies.

Every Arab nation known is either monarchy or dictatorship.

Congratulations on completely missing the point!

Name even one Muslim-majority nation other than Bangladesh and Turkey (even these, I have to stretch quite a bit to qualify) that has actually had a democratic government which has not been overthrown by coup.

Basically, the only "democratic Arabs" are in Israel "proper"; nowhere else in the Arab world can the concept even take root.

You're still missing the point. Carry on.