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It’s
Bush’s fault
Democracy spreads
May 27, 2005
iranian.com
“When the people realize they have the power to expose
the deceit underlying a government prone to repression, it is the
beginning of that regime's end,” Peter Ackerman, Fletcher
School graduate and Tufts trustee, op-ed
in The Boston Globe
A resilient, yet experimental venture by the Bush Administration
into uncharted waters has proven largely beneficial as democracy
sweeps several countries once occupied by tyrants. The winds of
change are blowing across the world as jubilant demonstrators are
taking back their God-given right to freedom once usurped by fascist
dictators. An unshaken vision of international democracy in coordination
with the deep desire of individuals across the world to be free
has led to elections across the Middle East and the former Soviet
Union.
In Georgia, a fraud-infested election led to peaceful protests
by thousands against President Eduard Shevardnadze. President Shevardnadze
forced to succumb to the rightful demand of the people, stepped
down paving the way for elections in the former Soviet state. The
revolution in Georgia (the Rose Revolution) opened the gateway
for several subsequent democratic revolts within the region. President
Bush’s visit to Georgia this month was welcomed by hundreds
of thousands who’d labeled him the ‘Great Liberator’.
In Ukraine, fraudulent election results in November led to a
mass popular movement around opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko.
Peter Ackerman of the Boston Globe wrote “in the
wake of what was widely perceived as a corrupt election on Nov.
21, Ukrainians
took to the streets -- wearing orange clothing as a symbol
of solidarity with Yushchenko’s campaign -- and demanded
a new vote. Public figures ranging from policemen to news broadcasters
defected from the government’s party line and openly expressed
agreement with Yushchenko’s movement.” Largely welcomed
by the Bush Administration, Yushchenko was elected President of
Ukraine in a free and fair democratic election in December.
In Kyrgyzstan, pro-democracy demonstrations were touched off
due to popular outrage over unfair election results. President
Askar Akayev after fifteen years of autocratic rule was confronted
by tens of thousands of demonstrators demanding his resignation
and the implementation of free elections. President Askar Akayev
would later flee to Russia where he has taken refugee as a lamed
dictator. Democratic presidential elections under the control of
designated Prime Minister, Kurmanbek Bakiyev are set to take place
in June.
In Kuwait, women received the right to vote for the first time
after four decades of parliamentary government. Granting women
the right to vote was one of the most significant events in the
history of the Kuwaiti nation and a proud push towards a free society.
The first lady Laura Bush praised the initiative as a “proud
step towards democracy.”
In Saudi Arabia, the gulf nation agreed to hold the first historical
municipal election. The election was part of a large plan to bring
democracy to the Gulf kingdom. According to AFP over seventy percent
of registered voters turned out, putting the tally far ahead of
most western nations, insidiously opening the once iron gate to
society.
In Azerbaijan, pro-democracy forces previously emboldened by
the revolutionary trend in the former Soviet Union region took
the streets by the thousands to take on President Ilham Aliyev.
This month, thousands gathered to call for free-and fair elections
in November before being beaten with batons. Many of these demonstrators
were seen carrying portraits of US President George W. Bush. During
a May 10 speech in Georgia, President Bush guaranteed that the
United States would back democratic change in all former Soviet
states.
In Iran, pro-democracy students have taken to the streets several
times during the past couple of years. A poll conducted this month
by student activists at Amir Kabir University the countries second
largest university provided a discomfiting message for the reigning
Ayatollahs. The University poll chronicled a mere five to ten percent
support for the mullahs and eighty-five percent support for a secular
democratic government. President Bush has consistently reached
out to this nation that Michael Rubin of the Washington Enterprise
Institute dubbed the “most pro-American in the entire region,
if not the world”, and Thomas Friedman of the New York
Times called “the ultimate red state. . .”
Dictatorial tyrants are enthusiastically trying to suffocate
the window of opportunity for democratic freedom fighters. The
specifics of this confrontation are often difficult to follow,
especially for those lacking a knack for regional politics; however
the conflict is best characterized as a battle between good and
evil. In this battle of good versus evil, the good wields a powerful
weapon, their natural born right to in a free, democratic society
where the basic tenants of human rights are not only accepted,
but widely embraced.
The unconditional support of an administration determined to
spread the foundations of democracy will in the end lead to the
victory of the brave freedom fighters. Unfortunately, several vindictive
and irrational groups will not succumb to their failure in predicting
the beneficial consequences of the Bush Doctrine. As an extra monkey
tactic, they have backtracked to their usual innate conspiracy
of blaming President Bush for everything. Several countries are
free and democratic with many more to come, but let us not forget -- it
is Bush’s fault.
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