Countdown

Let's (Not) Make a Deal...

Vol. VIII, No. 24
Posted on Tuesday September 18, 2007

Let’s (Not) Make a Deal…

In anticipation of the November meeting on the Arab-Israeli conflict, Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) are circulating a sign-on letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice with recommendations for the participation of “friendly Arab countries.” While it’s common knowledge that the United States (as well as Israel for that matter) is eager for Saudi Arabia’s participation, the letter’s recommendations seem designed to produce just the opposite effect. For example, the letter fails to acknowledge the Saudi Peace Plan which outlines an end to the conflict which includes peace and full diplomatic relations between Israel and all Arab states. Instead, it urges Arab governments to “recognize Israel’s right to exist and not use such recognition as a bargaining chip for future Israeli concessions” and “end the Arab League economic boycott of Israel in all of its forms.” As host to the conference, what would the United States gain from setting such preconditions before the parties have even gathered to negotiate? The letter then takes aim at Saudi efforts to negotiate a national unity government and forestall renewed Palestinian civil conflict. If the goal is for Arab states not to participate in the upcoming conference, this would be the way to go.

A No-Bid Contract for U-Haul

The country has waited for months to hear testimony from General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker on the situation in Iraq. But it should come as no surprise that some senators couldn’t help offering some ideas of their own. Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC), for example, offered the following: “I frankly believe that if Iraq was located anywhere else in the world, that a functioning democracy would emerge in the relatively short term. But it’s not located anywhere in the world. It’s in the Middle East.” For the amount of money being spent in Iraq, why not just pay to move it somewhere else? There seems to be room in the Norwegian Sea, between Iceland and Norway. That’s a nice neighborhood.

How to Succeed When Imposing Democracy

Senator DeMint’s statement puts him squarely at odds with President George W. Bush, who observed four years ago, “Some say the culture of the Middle East will not sustain the institutions of democracy. The same doubts were proved wrong nearly six decades ago, when the Republic of the Philippines became the first democratic nation in Asia.” Ironically, both DeMint and Bush have a common point, albeit not one either intended. According to a soon-to-be-published study on nations where democracy was imposed from outside, Andrew Enterline and J. Michael Greig note a statistical correlation where democracy has been successfully imposed: large occupation forces early on to stamp out possible insurgencies; a clear message that occupation forces were willing to spend years to make democracy work; an ethnically homogenous population; and having neighbors that also were democratically minded, or at least neighbors who could be kept from interfering. Iraq meets none of those conditions. India, alone among the 41 cases in the last 200 years, has maintained a vibrant democracy without any of those four criteria.

Iraqi Refugees – the Hidden Human Face of the War in Iraq

While the number of refugees and internally displaced persons in Iraq continues to grow, these vulnerable populations are facing continued violence and disease. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees estimates that 2 million Iraqis are displaced within the country and another 2.2 million are external refugees. In addition to violence, an outbreak of cholera has been linked not only to the infrastructure degraded by years of sanctions, but to the restriction on chlorine imports because of its appearance in bombs. The mounting crisis was the subject of a stinging critique by U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker, who demanded that the processing of Iraqi refugees accelerate. To date, the U.S. has taken in only 1,521 Iraqis who have worked alongside U.S. forces and whose lives were threatened in Iraq. As always, those who suffer most from war are the innocent.

Ramadan Kareem

Elected officials have issued greetings in honor of major religious holidays since the founding of the Republic, but it is only recently that Islam has become part of that tradition. Virginia Governor Tim Kaine sent “greetings and best wishes to Muslim citizens throughout the Commonwealth…The economic and cultural outreach of Muslim Virginians have enriched us all….” New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez observed, “During this holy month, Muslims commit to strengthening family and community ties through acts of selflessness.” And in an uncoordinated bipartisan action, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean said “my family and I wish to express to Muslims in America and around the world our very best wishes;” while from President George W. Bush came the message “Laura and I send our best wishes;” and both statements conclude “Ramadan Mubarak.” The Arab American Institute adds its own warm wishes to the American Muslim community for a blessed Ramadan.