A resilient,
yet experimental venture by the Bush Administration into uncharted
waters has proven largely beneficial, as democracy sweeps
several countries once held captive by tyrants. The winds
of change are blowing across the world as jubilant demonstrators
take back their God-given right to freedom, once denied by
fascist dictators. An unshakeable vision of international
democracy in coordination with the deep desire of people around
the world to be free has led to elections throughout the Middle
East and the former Soviet Union.
In Georgia,
a fraud-plagued election led to peaceful protests by thousands
against President Eduard Shevardnadze. President Shevardnadze,
forced to succumb to the rightful demands of the people, stepped
down, thus paving the way for elections in the former Soviet
state. The revolution in Georgia (the Rose Revolution) opened
the floodgates to several subsequent democratic revolts within
the region. President Bush’s visit to Georgia this month
was welcomed by hundreds of thousands who’d labeled
him the "Great Liberator".
In
Ukraine, fraudulent election results in November led to a
mass popular movement around opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko.
Peter Ackerman of the Boston Globe wrote, "in the wake
of what was widely perceived as a corrupt election on Nov.
21, Ukrainians took to the streets - wearing orange clothing
as a symbol of solidarity with Yushchenko’s campaign
- and demanded a new vote. Public figures ranging from policemen
to news broadcasters defected from the government’s
party line and openly expressed agreement with Yushchenko’s
movement." Largely
welcomed by the Bush Administration, Yushchenko was elected
President of Ukraine in a free and fair democratic election
in December.
In
Kyrgyzstan, pro-democracy demonstrations were touched off
due to popular outrage over unfair election results. President
Askar Akayev, after fifteen years of autocratic rule, was
confronted by tens of thousands of demonstrators demanding
his resignation and the implementation of free elections.
President Askar Akayev would later flee to Russia where he
has taken refugee as a lamed dictator. Democratic presidential
elections under the control of designated Prime Minister,
Kurmanbek Bakiyev are set to take place in June.
In Kuwait,
women received the right to vote for the first time after
four decades of parliamentary government. Granting women the
right to vote was one of the most significant events in the
history of the Kuwaiti nation and a proud push towards a free
society. The first lady Laura Bush praised the initiative
as a "proud step towards democracy."
In Saudi
Arabia, that gulf nation agreed to hold the first historical
municipal election. The election was part of a larger plan
to bring democracy to the Gulf kingdom. According to AFP over
seventy percent of registered voters turned out, putting the
tally far ahead of most western nations, insidiously opening
the once iron gate to society.
In Azerbaijan,
pro-democracy forces previously emboldened by the revolutionary
trend in the former Soviet Union region took the streets by
the thousands to take on President Ilham Aliyev. This month,
thousands gathered to call for free-and fair elections in
November before being beaten with batons. Many of these demonstrators
were seen carrying portraits of US President George W. Bush.
During a May 10 speech in Georgia, President Bush guaranteed
that the United States would back democratic change in all
former Soviet states.
In Iran,
pro-democracy students have taken to the streets several times
during the past couple of years. A poll conducted this month
by student activists at Amir Kabir University, the country’s
second largest University, sent a discomfiting message for
the reigning Ayatollahs; the University poll chronicled a
mere five to ten percent support for the mullahs and eighty-five
percent support for a secular democratic government. President
Bush has consistently reached out to Iran, a nation that Michael
Rubin of the Washington Enterprise Institute dubbed the "most
pro-American in the entire region, if not the world",
and Thomas Friedman of the New York Times called "the
ultimate red state."
Dictatorial tyrants are enthusiastically trying to slam shut
the window of opportunity for democratic freedom fighters.
The specifics of this confrontation are often difficult to
follow, especially for those who lack a knack for regional
politics. The conflict, however, is best characterized as
a battle between good and evil. In this battle of good versus
evil, the good wields a powerful weapon, their natural born
right to live in a free, democratic society where the basic
tenants of human rights are not only accepted, but widely
embraced.
The
unconditional support of an administration determined to spread
the foundations of democracy will in the end lead to the victory
of the brave freedom fighters. Unfortunately, several vindictive
and irrational groups will not succumb to their failure in
predicting the beneficial consequences of the Bush Doctrine.
As an extra monkey tactic, they have backtracked to their
usual innate conspiracy of blaming President Bush for everything.
Several countries are free and democratic with many more to
come, but let us not forget - it is Bush’s fault.
©
2005 Tocqevillian Magazine
