Careful what you wish for...
Hamas has won a majority of seats in Palestinian elections. -- What is interesting in this statement is the word "elections". Elections were held. A democratic process was carried through, and peaceful change of government has occurred. The same can be said for other nations, recently, as well: Bolivia, Chile, Iran, Iraq, Germany, and yes, Canada.
The funny thing about democracy is that people who you don't always agree with can be voted into power. If we truly want "Democracy breaking out all over", we must accept the fact that every nation is not going to think the way we want them to think: Coca farmers can become Presidents. Terrorists groups can have political clout. Idiots can fool most of the people most of the time.
While the Bush administration is bemoaning the fact that a terrorist group has won elections in the Palestinian Authority, they could also turn this to their advantage and uphold the elections as "Democracy in Action" -- and offer guidance in how to turn this group away from terrorism, and towards a political and diplomatic mission. -- Not that this administration would actually do that -- we do have an idiot (& company) in power, after all. But we simply can not be so two-faced in the world to suggest that we will only support democracy when those in power agree ideologically with our people in power.
"When life gives you lemons -- make lemonade." We will lose even more ground diplomatically if we let this opportunity slip.
The funny thing about democracy is that people who you don't always agree with can be voted into power. If we truly want "Democracy breaking out all over", we must accept the fact that every nation is not going to think the way we want them to think: Coca farmers can become Presidents. Terrorists groups can have political clout. Idiots can fool most of the people most of the time.
While the Bush administration is bemoaning the fact that a terrorist group has won elections in the Palestinian Authority, they could also turn this to their advantage and uphold the elections as "Democracy in Action" -- and offer guidance in how to turn this group away from terrorism, and towards a political and diplomatic mission. -- Not that this administration would actually do that -- we do have an idiot (& company) in power, after all. But we simply can not be so two-faced in the world to suggest that we will only support democracy when those in power agree ideologically with our people in power.
"When life gives you lemons -- make lemonade." We will lose even more ground diplomatically if we let this opportunity slip.