:
Sun - Dec 12 -

DEMOCRACY IN THE MIDDLE EAST -

The Blame Game -

at the Rabat, Morocco, conference:

*the Iraqi bloodshed ruined any chance of rapproachment between Americans and ME'ers...

In Morocco, Islamic activists in the media denounced yesterday’s conference as an "indignity" and "a humiliation of the Moroccan people".*

+ This indignity/humiliation line is an old, familiar tune. But doesn't the use of it here suggest that it is being used as a defense mechanism in order to deny their fear of failing?

:: From Ian Mather - ScotSunday ::

* * * * *

Arab Elections -

Meanwhile, a Saturday entry on The Arabist Network weblog offers a translated excerpt from a recent Faisal al Kassem "Point-Counterpoint" program about Middle East elections on Aljazeera TV which is notable for its stark candor:

*Do Arab leaders think that they can trick their people with small reductions in their margins of victory in elections, by reducing their official vote rigging from 99.99 percent to 97 or 95 percent? When will they stop this farce and this cheap theater?...*

:: Read the Rest ::

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