Middle East Policy

Max Boot of the Council on Foreign Relations has written an interesting article indicating the way of thinking about the historic people and events. The full op-ed: Bush Knockout is Premature Author: Max Boot October 13, 2005 Los Angeles Times Commentators are writing George W. Bush’s political obituary. And why not? Things do seem pretty grim for the president, with surveys indicating that public disapproval (53 percent in Real clearpolitics.com’s poll of polls) outweighs support (42.2 percent) by a hefty margin. The top item on his second-term agenda—Social Security reform—has no chance of passage. His party is mired in scandal, with former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and ex-federal procurement czar David Safavian under indictment. Charges of cronyism and incompetence swirl around the White House. Even conservatives are jumping ship over Bush’s spending binge and his nomination of a total nonentity—an empty blouse—for the Supreme Court. None of it matters. The best analogy is t...

I think the constitution is the most important part of the "Operation Iraqi Freedom" and in the whole course of action concerning Iraq liberation and reform in the Middle East. If adopted, it will be the first democratic functioning constitution has been written by the free will of people in the Arabic region. Furthermore, the constitution is the institutionalization of the liberation and democratization of Iraq. This institutionalization is the indispensable ultimate guarantee of the Iraqi freedom and democracy. Apart from some controversial political stipulations in the constitution –these related to the timely political game and balance of powers and subject to evolvement and change as time goes-- the foremost and basic achievement is the rules of the political game that parties must and will abide by in seeking political interests and objectives. Following are the recent stances concerning the Iraqi constitution question: U.S. Envoy Welcomes Compromise on Iraq's Draft...

In its editorial the Daily Star –an English Lebanese newspaper-- stresses on the importance of the European Union in promoting reform in the Middle East. The funny matter that it perceived advantages of the Barcelona Process as regards the political reform in many Arab countries!!! I did not see what they see and I totally disagree that the Barcelona Process made anything of political reform in the Arab region. To be honest I call on my readers to provide me with those presumed accomplishments I did not find. Here is an example of some Arabic fantasy thought: The European Union: A quiet but powerful force for reform Thursday, October 06, 2005 Editorial While much has been said about Washington's loud and ambitious projects to reshape the Arab world - including the Iraq war and the Broader Middle East Initiative - it is worth noting that the region is quietly being transformed by another powerful global force: the European Union. Through the process of engagement and patient dialog...

Supporting the new Lebanon is a very important part of the democratization process in the Middle East and is an evidence of the U.S. commitment to political reform in the Middle East. In my view, without real and strong U.S. commitment to the independent and democratic Lebanon the U.S. credibility in the Middle East reform question would be far damaged. The U.S has frequently assured this commitment and here are some recent details: State's Welch Reaffirms U.S. Commitment to Lebanon Says United States prepared to assist all aspects of Lebanese reform agenda Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Welch has reaffirmed the deep commitment of the United States for the people and government of Lebanon. Speaking to reporters after meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora in Beirut, Lebanon, October 12, Welch said the United States is prepared to help Lebanon advance in all aspects of its reform agenda, which involves political, economic and security issues....

Here is the Bush's remarks in which he explains the U.S. strategy of the war on terror in bases and action: THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary October 6, 2005 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENTON THE WAR ON TERROR Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center Washington, D.C. 10:07 A.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. (Applause.) Thank you all. Please be seated. (Applause.) Thank you for the warm welcome. I'm honored once again to be with the supporters of the National Endowment for Democracy. Since the day President Ronald Reagan set out the vision for this Endowment, the world has seen the swiftest advance of democratic institutions in history. And Americans are proud to have played our role in this great story. Our nation stood guard on tense borders; we spoke for the rights of dissidents and the hopes of exile; we aided the rise of new democracies on the ruins of tyranny. And all the cost and sacrifice of that struggle has been worth it, because, from La...

President Bush has made another historic address. It is very important moment in the history when the super power --the United States-- admits its historical mistakes in the Middle East when it left the region to the terrorists and despots. I hope that the U.S. finally understands that nobody can claim his dignity and freedom when he just ignores the others'. Now I think, and hope so, that America is back, and then a new Middle East would emerge. Apart from ideologies, religious or not, the problem has one name, one identity and one essence. That is totalitarianism and authoritarianism. The totalitarianism can easily and it constitutes one interdependent system of many different parts. And that is the case now in the Middle East, actually, in the most of the Middle East. To achieve the peace, security and prosperity in the Middle East there must be firstly, a serious course of action aimed at the totalitarianism in the Middle East. This course of action is indispensable first step ...

The U.S. secretary of state Dr. Condoleezza Rice has addressed the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. She made an insightful remarks may help readers' insight of the U.S. mideast policy through spotlighting the bases of this policy as Dr. Rice illuminates. Following is the transcript of Rice's remarks in full with highlighting some sections I consider as key ones: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of the Spokesman September 30, 2005 KEYNOTE ADDRESS Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice At Princeton University's Celebration of the 75th Anniversary Of the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs September 30, 2005 Princeton University New Jersey (3:00 p.m. EDT) SECRETARY RICE: Thank you. Thank you very much. Madame President, other distinguished members here on the dais, and especially to Anne-Marie Slaughter who I know not just as a fine Dean of the Woodrow Wilson School but also as an extraordinary scholar whose e...

Ending the political status quo in the Arab countries, in my view, is indispensable to the reform process in the Middle East. This status quo is based on power monopoly of the governing regimes with deliberate paralyzing of the civil society by even violent means. The international overlooking was essential part of implementing this policy. Muhammad al-Rumayhi in his Al-Hayat article is arguing the significance of the activation has been done in the political life of both Iraq and Egypt as a central part of the reform and democratization process. This article was included and translated by the Middle East Democracy Digest of The Foundation for the Defense of Democracies Here is the article in full: Baghdad and Cairo: The Return of Politics By Muhammad al-Rumayhi Translation by Tony Badran Al-Hayat September 14, 2005 Web site: http://www.daralhayat.com/opinion/09-2005/Item-20050913-50ca5151-c0a8-10ed-001e-064cf321723e/story.html Despite the apparently striking difference between the two...