Mr. Bush, (un) Freedom in Arabia, and Janis Joplin
An intriguing quote from President Bush in Europe last June, quoted by J. Diehl in the Washington Post (August 6).
"I have asked Secretary Rice," he said, "to send a directive to every U.S. ambassador in an unfree nation: Seek out and meet with activists for democracy. Seek out those who demand human rights."
Does this mean that US ambassadors are busy doing so in Saudi Arabia (no elections, no free speech, no constitution, no accountability, definitely no regrets) and Egypt (the only man ever to opppose Mubarak in an election has been in prison ever since)? They can't be doing so in Tehran and Pyongyang: there are no embassies in the remaining two limbs of the now defunct axis of evil. But then again, they can't be doing so in Riyadh and other free Arab capitals either: the activists for democracy are either in prison or in exile.....unless they are in power and pretending to be reforming despots.
Speaking of the free and the unfree (?), I wonder if they ban Janis Joplin these days? You know: freedom is another word for nothing left to lose.....etc etc.
In Iraq, the al-Maliki government is losing its ministers, but apparently only on a part-time basis. The Tawafuq (Sunni) front withdrew, but praised al-Maliki later for some deal about prisoner release. Allawi's Iraqi front did a partial withdrawal: henceforth they will not meet with al-Maliki. The Tawafuq, led by A. al-Dulaimi, has had some of its high officials arrested in recent months or they have escaped on suspicion of supporting insurgents. It is almost certain that it gets financial aid from some neighboring Arab oil countries.
Ayad Allawi spends a lot of time traveling around the region, especially the Persian Gulf region, calling for extra-constitutional change of regime- change in his own country, not in those monarchies. This icall is welcomed in many Arab capitals, especially around the Gulf. Now all he needs to do is convince all factions of the Iraqi people that they really need extra-constitutional change- talking it up around the Gulf monarchies will not do: preaching to the converted wins no new converts (hey, that last one does sound clever, doesn't it?).
In Lebanon, the opposition has won an extra seat in parliament today. The opposition means the Shi'a Hezbollah, Amal, and several Maronite Christian, Armenian and other groups. The cabinet of Mr. Saniora tried to put the best face on it, but it clearly hurt. It boggles the mind trying to think how the Lebanese can extricate themselves from this political morass they have been in for about a year. As for the chances of outsiders of doing so, be they American, Iranian, Saudi or European.....fohgetttaboutit!
Cheers
Mohammed
m.h.ghuloum@gmail.com
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