From Mr M. Megawer

The uncaring corrupt leaders, presidents, kings and sheikhs of the Arab world bowed unwillingly to pressure from Washington to go ahead with political reform and increase vocal opposition. By a remarkable coincidence, the first to respond was the Saudi regime by promoting the first local council elections in Saudi Arabia.

In most Arab nations people are becoming increasingly angry with what they regard as uncaring corrupt leaders. Notwithstanding the various calls for multi-party elections, the dictatorial regimes in the Arab world could still easily rule both elections and the country The calls for a more open democratic dialogue is false and a travesty of real democracy, but at least if offers some hope following several decades of stagnation in the Arab world's political system. In fact the opposition parties in the Arab world have been around for decades, but they were not allowed to participate freely in politics by tyrannical regimes The Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was the only candidate for many decades and he won elections with 99.9 per cent of the vote! So what is the difference between him and Ben Ali of Tunisia who obtained over 95 per cent of the votes in the last election, or the neighbouring great Jamahariya where, in spite of the oil rich economy, development is close to zero in so many areas.

There is little respect in the Arab world for human rights and democratic principles. In a real democracy do you see a Member of Parliament, a leader of an opposition party being arrested for criticising the government? Newspaper offices are closed down, political parties are banned and people are imprisoned. So what kind of democracy does one find in the Arab world? During presidential elections will Arab television networks air the debates of the various candidates? Will international monitors have access to polling stations?

The US is going to make the Arab world a happier and free democratic society. But one wonders if this is American idealism or just American self-interest in the Middle East? Or is the US ultimately losing support in the region because of its double standards policy on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict? American’s failure to speak out when members of opposition parties in the Arab world are harassed or imprisoned by the Authorities without charges, has re-confirmed the widespread deep belief among Arabs that the US is not sincere about promoting real democracy.

Can Mr Bush convince the Arab world about his new democracy and freedom with all the distrust created by his foreign policy in the Middle East? Can the American Administration convince the Arab world that a democratic nation is more objective and compassionate, when they have not shown the slightest inclination of being objective and extending compassion to the Palestinian people? Will the introduction of US backed democracy in a region where anger and resentment of its foreign policy is unrivalled, work? Hopefully the unravelling of the Middle East has begun and the Arab’s Berlin wall has started to crumble.

Moustafa Megawer

QAWRA