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Israel-Palestine
Palestinians Say They Want Democracy
2004-11-21
Freed from Yasser Arafat's one-man rule, Palestinians say they are eager and able to build the first real democracy in the Arab world, despite the dangers lurking on the road to Jan. 9 elections.
Ummm... Yeah. Okay. I believe it...
The thrill of new possibilities is felt across the West Bank and Gaza Strip: the field of candidates for Palestinian Authority president gets more crowded by the day and includes a militant sheik turned moderate, a dissident once jailed by Arafat, and a prisoner of Israel campaigning from his cell. "Now it's real competition, the possibility of winning is there," said pro-democracy activist Mustafa Barghouti, a physician considering a presidential bid.
Marwan would make a fine president, very representative of Paleostine...
However, the shift to democracy could be rough.
No! Reallllly?
Armed gangs have been controlling the streets in four years of Israeli-Palestinian conflict, raising the threat of political violence during a heated campaign. Democratic traditions are not deeply rooted. During his 10 years as leader of the Palestinian Authority, Arafat accepted some of the trappings of democracy, including general elections in 1996 and a feisty parliament, but always reserved the final say.
... which was usually "Give me the money."
Islamic militants, who are not fielding a candidate, haven't said whether they'll suspend attacks on Israel; without a truce, it would be virtually impossible to hold the vote. And Israel has not yet agreed to keep its troops at a distance from the voting.
Posted by:Fred

#12  
Palestinians Say They Want Democracy
You misspelled "kill all the Jews."
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2004-11-21 8:31:22 PM  

#11  Democratic traditions are not deeply rooted.

This sort of understatement is like calling the ocean, "rather damp."
Posted by: Zenster   2004-11-21 6:29:35 PM  

#10  Dang! Is that a Frank G. station?

I do love a good train wreck.
Posted by: Shipman   2004-11-21 5:05:20 PM  

#9  I do like the tailored fatigues tho.
Posted by: Shipman   2004-11-21 3:30:00 PM  

#8  Democracy?

Nov. 21, 2004
A masked Hamas terrorist burns a US soldier in effigy in Nablus on Friday morning during a demonstration against the US offensive in Iraq.
Hamas is the very same enemy we fight in Iraq.
Posted by: Mark Espinola   2004-11-21 3:15:53 PM  

#7  hat tip to the Beatles, of course.
Posted by: too true   2004-11-21 11:43:09 AM  

#6  You say you want a revolution
Well you know
we all want to change the world
You tell me that it's evolution
Well you know
We all want to change the world
But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know you can count me out
Don't you know it's gonna be alright
Alright Alright

You say you got a real solution
Well you know
we'd all love to see the plan
You ask me for a contribution
Well you know
We're doing what we can
But when you want money for people with minds that hate
All I can tell you is brother you have to wait
Don't you know it's gonna be alright
Alright Alright

You say you'll change the constitution
Well you know
we all want to change your head
You tell me it's the institution
Well you know
You better free your mind instead
But if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao
You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow
Don't you know know it's gonna be alright
Alright Alright

For the Israelis, what with the Fence and the withdrawl, anyway.



Posted by: too true   2004-11-21 11:42:19 AM  

#5  actually the first real democracy in the Arab world is ...Israel. That's another reason why they hate it so much
Posted by: Frank G   2004-11-21 11:38:37 AM  

#4  eager and able to build the first real democracy in the Arab world

So what is Iraq, chopped liver? Or maybe to them it only counts if the local tyrant was removed by God instead of Coalition forces.

Democracy is only formalized mob rule when the society lacks rule of law. Idiots.
Posted by: trailing wife   2004-11-21 11:31:22 AM  

#3  Too true .com. They only mention the 'democracy' word because they know it's the magic word that makes most of the West melt and start to tear up.

Little old ladies will interrupt their democratic tea parties to watch in symathetic awe as the touching spectacle of a people struggling towards 'democracy' unfolds on their tv screens.

The intimidation and beatings and theft of ballot boxes will be ignored and the elections deemed 'free and fair' by the 'international community'. Then the Paleos will happily revert to their stone age behaviour.

Or am I being too cynical?
Posted by: Bryan   2004-11-21 7:39:48 AM  

#2  We want democracy --- keep the aid comming!
Posted by: Anonymous6236   2004-11-21 7:33:44 AM  

#1  They already have kleptocracy & mob rule - and they're so good at it - what more could they want, other than a pony to shoot and hang from a lamppost as a collaborator?
Posted by: .com   2004-11-21 12:09:00 AM  

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