The March of Freedom

By Edward Daley

March 4, 2005

Paying close attention to the news these days might lead some people to believe that the Middle East is more chaotic and unpredictable than it has been in many years... and those people would be right. That part of the world is displaying ever-increasing signs of moving toward a level of sociopolitical turmoil, the likes of which has not been attained in the region for centuries.

Recent events there mark the beginning of what may well prove to be a cultural tempest of extraordinary ferocity, however, the swirling winds of change to which I refer are not born of despotic intent, but rather, an unquenchable thirst for human liberty. What we could be witnessing today is a revolutionary shift toward democracy and individual freedom on a scale unseen since the toppling of the Berlin Wall.

Ever since the government of Pakistan first joined the Iraq War coalition in 2002, countries across the Middle East, as well as North Africa, have begun to exhibit a desire for reform, trending toward more America-friendly courses of action. President Bush's decision to abandon the failed policies of dictator appeasement and apathy toward terrorism, has obviously put the fear of Allah into many Islamic regimes, despite the fact that their rhetoric, in many cases, is still fairly hostile toward the west.

But as the old saying goes, actions speak louder than words, and the behavior of despotic rulers like Muammar Qadhafi, say more about the current mindset and intentions of his ilk than the litany of hate spewed forth by any of Iran's unpopular Mullahs. While that country's government seems determined to develop nuclear capabilities, it cannot long ignore the mounting pressure by the international community to dispense with its plans in that regard, nor can it turn a blind eye to the groundswell of pro-western sentiment within its own borders.

Clearly Qadhafi's swearing off of Libyan WMD programs, following the invasion of Iraq, was an unanticipated victory in the war against terrorists and the countries which support them. That fact is undeniable, yet as profound as it was, that event isn't the only one of note to have unfolded within the Islamic world since the liberation of the Iraqi people.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3335965.stm

Indeed, the astounding proposal of Saturday last by Hosni Mubarak, to hold honest-to-goodness presidential elections in Egypt, is also indicative of a substantial change in the way certain key Muslim leaders are dealing with the fallout from the ouster of Iraq's former regime. Although the Libyan and Egyptian situations are obviously dissimilar in most respects, the one attribute they share is that the leaders of both countries have turned 180 degrees away from long-standing, and seemingly inflexible positions.

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1032765,00.html

Even Saudi Arabia, only a few weeks ago, held municipal elections for the first time in it's history, and its leadership is now considering the unprecedented step of allowing women to participate in future votes. The Palestinians as well have held the first truly legitimate election they've ever known, now that Yasser Arafat is no longer in the picture, and the new leader of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, has taken impressive strides toward peace with Israel during his brief tenure.

http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=105478&Sn=WORL&IssueID=27345

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-01/10/content_407364.htm

Yet of all the important events which have transpired since the removal of the Hussein crime family from power, none has a greater potential of spreading the seeds of democracy throughout the region than the sudden resignation Monday afternoon of the entire Syrian-backed government in Lebanon. While it remains to be seen how the Baathist government in Damascus will react to this extraordinary state of affairs, the emotionally charged demonstrations which spawned it, have surely left an indelible mark on the psyches of every individual in the Middle East (and elsewhere) who dreams of one day casting off the shackles of Islamo-fascism.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,148962,00.html

When one considers the narrow time span over which the latter few of these events have occurred, one cannot dismiss the probability of a powerful, cumulative impression upon the people of the region. I for one can only hope that a "domino effect" is taking place there, and that these modest sparks of democracy will soon touch off a firestorm of political debate, protestation, and the inevitable rejection of non-representative governments by the people of Islam.

Call me a dreamer, but I actually believe that human beings crave liberty, and independence of thought and action. That belief is predicated upon the understanding that people are essentially the same everywhere, and that if my fellow countrymen and I are as passionate about our own freedoms as we have always demonstrated we are, all other people must possess the same basic desire for liberty as well.

My freedom is as important to me as the air I breath and the food I eat, and I'm betting I'm not the only one who feels that way. You may accuse me of being an idealist, but the ideal to which I aspire is a world free of despotism, and I have yet to find anything wrong with that concept. The way I see it, most other hindrances to human potential shrink to insignificance when compared to that monumental barrier called tyranny. You may not agree with that assertion, but keep this one final thought in mind: at least you're free to debate the issue.

By Edward L. Daley

Owner of the Daley Times-Post

http://www.times-post.com