A deal has been reached about the status of Kirkuk which now clears the way for the forming of a new government in Iraq which will likely take place next week. The US has been pointedly avoiding brokering a deal between the sides, preferring instead to make the new Iraqi governing congress come to grips with the dealmaking and compromises necessary in a Democracy. And it appears that many in the region "get it" as this op/ed piece from the Khaleej Times Online indicates.
The prime minister and the president of the caretaker government that oversaw the election process-Iraq’s first tryst with democracy in several decades-are not the ones who tasted victory. Both Iyad Allawi and Ghazi Al Yawar have less reason to be cheerful, as they are not the major winners. New alignments and new leaders are in the making to lead Iraq.
This shows impatience will not work in a democratic set up. Those who showed patience and wholeheartedly participated in the election are getting an opportunity to share power and lead the people. Those who boycotted the elections have lost out; at least for now. It might be that, by good sense, the winning side would involve them too in the governance. That’s how a nation can stand united and reconstruction made easy. Lots of people had thought the elections in Iraq would be a bogus one. If so, it would have been Iyad Allawi and his team who won them hands down, for the simple reason that it was they who oversaw the entire process. Many thought Americans will put the same people into power through a sham elections. But, the results proved otherwise.
Indeed. But many in Europe and the US do not get it; or in some cases do get it and just don't like it. However, it seems that the protests planned to mark the two-year anniversary of the War in Iraq turned out far fewer people than they did on the eve of the war. This could indicate that many more people than before are at least willing to take a cautiously optimistic attitude or are simply not willing to be in the position to stand against the democracies which seem to be busting out all over. Us baby boomers who lived through the Civil Rights marches and such felt we were living through momentous times, but it seems to me that this was nothing compared to what is happening today. What is happening in our children's generation. And even if they don't realize it now, our children have lit a fire that could very well revolutionize not just the US, but the whole world. And if things work out, no generation since the generation that participated in World War Two can make such a claim.
"Today we are seeing hopeful signs across the broader Middle East. The victory of freedom in Iraq is strengthening a new ally in the war on terror, and inspiring democratic reformers from Beirut to Tehran.."
President Bush said.
And we have our children to thank for that.
Meanwhile, things continue to improve in Iraq. And while some continue to focus on the roadblocks preventing progress, others see these same things as challenges to be met and overcome. Summarizing the accomplishements of the last two years takes a whole website. Check it out. And Captain Ed notes that the Iraqi "insurgency" is fading.
Jordan sentences terrorist sociopath and al Qaeda funkie Abu Musab al-Zarqawi to 15 yeas in prison in absentia for "conspiring to carry out terrorist acts" against Jordanian and American targets in Iraq. Fifteen years? What? Have they gone European?
The Arab League summit is being shunned by some of its important participants. Jordan's King Abd Allah II is too busy meeting with investors to play with racist dictators, Lebanese President Lahud has Syrian caused problems at home to which he must attend and UAE President Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayid Al Nahayan is busy too. The key proposal before the body is peace with Israel which Jordan proposed through the Saudi's back in 2002 and which faces stiff opposition by other members. But why bother even talking to these people as events are overtaking the cabal of jew-hating dictators? How about this? The Arab League sits down and condemns Sudan and decides to intervene on behalf of the black Christian people being erased in Darfur? After all, Sudan is an Arab League member. Whaddaya think?
Pro-Syrian forces in Lebanon may engage in more high profile assassinations if the Lebanese Nationalists don't come to the table to compromise. OK, so that's not the spin the Turkish Press puts on it, but that's what it sounds like to me. How 'bout you?
Opposition figures led by veteran Druze politician Walid Jumblatt rejected an appeal for talks that President Emile Lahoud issued Saturday after a bomb blast in a Christian quarter injured 11 people and sparked fears of a return to sectarian violence here....
The opposition rejection means that an ominous standoff between anti-Syrian opponents and the current leadership is set to continue in an atmosphere of mounting political tension that followed the assassination February 14 of former prime minister Rafiq Hariri.
My guess is that if Jumblatt is in fact assassinated, there will be no saving Syria.
And Beirut shopkeepers are complaining that all this protesting is bad for buisness. It seems Syrian security forces are allowing workers to get to the shops but no one else. As a result, some shopkeepers are seeing a 90% decline in buisness.
Few expect business to pick up before elections, due in May but threatened with delay unless a new government is formed soon and an electoral law passed.
There is no reason to delay elections. Elections will result in a new government by default.
Publius Pundit has a great Lebanon roundup.
Arthur Chrenkoff has more on the anti-war protests around the world.
