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January 30, 2005

Arabs Mesmerized by Iraqi Elections

Topics: Iraq Elections

If I were a moderate Arab living in an Arab country, I'd be looking at the Palestinians and the Iraqis while asking myself, "Why don't I have a say in my future?" If I were an Arab leader, I'd be a little concerned about how I treat my people.

"Arab governments may not say it, but they don't want Iraq's democratic experiment to succeed," said Turki al-Hamad, a prominent Saudi columnist and former political science professor. "Such a success would embarrass them and present them with the dilemma of either changing or being changed."

The Arab world is anything but indifferent to Sunday's polling in Iraq, which has dual implications for the restive region. It will almost certainly bring to power Iraq's long-suppressed Shiite Muslims, boosting the sect's influence in this Sunni Muslim-dominated area. It also will mean Washington has succeeded in bringing democracy to Iraq by force -- at least for the moment -- a precedent that could shake up the autocratic Arab world.

Hat tip - In the Agora

Posted by Hyscience at January 30, 2005 9:44 PM

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