Word: arabize
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...Hayat writer put it even more bluntly, denouncing “the imperial tendency” of “spreading democracy in the Middle East as a way to take over the region.” Nor has the backlash been limited to the Arab world. Our European allies—shockingly—have been cool to the plan as well, with one EU diplomat predicting it would precipitate a “clash of civilizations...
...there can be little doubt the Arab world is in need of modernization. As the UN’s 2002 Arab Human Development Report (AHDR) notes, the region is plagued by high unemployment, low growth, pervasive illiteracy and a dearth of opportunity for women. The GME initiative challenges the G8 countries to fund programs that would address these gaps...
Nonetheless, is it wise to impose modernization from outside? Surely not, but the plan can hardly be accused of imposing anything. Rather, the G8 programs would provide funds and technical assistance to Arab men and women working to create change internally: everything from journalism scholarships to micro-enterprise loans; from election monitors, to grants to pro-democracy NGOs and academic centers for women...
...plan’s Achilles heal is, as one Arab diplomat put it, “the messenger.” Between Bush’s over-zealous pursuit of illusory weapons in Iraq, and his under-zealous pursuit of a peaceful settlement in Israel, any plan he proposes for the Middle East is bound to be regarded suspiciously. The damage to our reputation wrought by the Iraq war will be hard to fix, but the president must make a credible effort to get Sharon and the Palestinian Authority back to the negotiating table. Until he does, the GME initiative...
...with Canada, Britain, Russia, Japan—even France and Germany! The administration must be held accountable to ensure that consultation is genuine, but so far the prospects for multilateralism look good. And it should warm peace-loving hearts to see the administration promoting democracy by creating opportunities for Arab reformers, instead of mounting invasions...