Middle East Policy

The U.S. will not abandon Iraq. To me, it means that the U.S. will not abandon the Middle East. Some recent stances and statements in the U.S urging to quit Iraq have shocked me. I find it, and I am sorry for this expression, extremely irresponsible, and definitely harming U.S. interests and the Middle East democratization movement. I definitely look positively at any deliberate prospective troops reduction, but setting a timetable of withdrawal, as U.S. giving up, would blow up the reform movement and the liberal renaissance in the Middle East. Furthermore, that would also blow up the American interests and credibility in the region. Jeopardizing all that for some politics gains is something approaching treason. The Americans must clearly know that this war in Iraq is a requisite for ensuring the 21st century as an American century. The post-cold war chaotic international order is dying because is no more able to tackle world problems. And a new dangers and serious threats endangering...

Still the EU has its own agenda and interest, and still the questions of immigration, and recently, terror are the most important and somewhat urgent to the EU. However, the EU has certainly a legitimate concerns and interests in the neighboring region, which is a vital space and has a strategic importance to the EU countries. Obviously, the EU has a shy democratic initiative in the Arab Mediterranean region. That is due to many reasons including the absence of a plan, considering that 10 years of Barcelona process yielded nothing in political reform, and the absence of something like the American political leverage, besides the consistent European pursuit of distancing the EU from the American policies in the region. The terror strikes inside Europe, the change in the post-Iraq Middle East and the decreasing European influence revealed at the latest Euromed summit must be reminders that Europe must revise the course. The freedom and democracy in the Middle East are important foundatio...

Here are two articles were included in The Arab Reform Bulletin, November 2005 on reform in Saudi Arabia and Libya: Saudi Arabia: Municipal Councils and Political Reform Jafar M. Al-Shayeb Saudis are still awaiting the inauguration of their partially-elected municipal councils, despite the fact that the last round of elections was held eight months ago. The delay has dampened popular enthusiasm for the councils and raised questions about the Saudi government's seriousness about political reform. It had been hoped that the municipal elections would open the door for wider popular participation and elections to other political bodies. Elections and other opportunities for popular participation existed early on in the history of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, although they were limited to a few regions and posts. Until the early 1960s, municipal councils were fully elected, as were some academic and business posts. In the early 1960s, however, ultraconservative religious leaders suppor...

This is the news section of The Arab Reform Bulletin, November 2005 , a product of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace , which is almost adopting, as I think, an approach to the Middle East reform rests on political considerations to push an ideological and political line related to the American politics more than the Middle East reform. I hope not. The bulletin has also included some articles. I will post some of them with my review later. Related post Egypt: Parliamentary Elections Begin The first of three rounds of elections for the People's Assembly (the lower house of parliament) began November 9. In preliminary results from the first round of elections as reported by Al Jazeera, 35 out of 164 races have been decided, 66 will go to run-offs, and 63 remain unanounced. The ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) won 31 of the 53 races decided so far; Muslim Brothers won three seats and an independent candidate won one. As expected, senior NDP leaders and government min...

The United States of Peace has published an interesting report "Strategies for Promoting Democracy in Iraq." The report has a very good methodology combining the historical context and political theory to produce a very practical strategy of promoting democracy in Iraq. Taking into account what I have read of research work in this domain, I can say that this report is very interesting. I will quote from this report the sections: Summary, the approach of this report and strategies for promoting democracy. PDF version of the full report Summary Social justice and economic development are essential for democracy in Iraq to succeed. The idea of a democratic Iraq is not one imposed by foreign powers, but rather one that Iraqis themselves vigorously support. Iraq has a tradition and history of democracy that can help promote the successful establishment of a democratic form of government in post–Saddam Hussein Iraq. Many of the foundations of democratic governance began in Ira...