PrintFebruary 6, 2011
America Must Lead, Not Hype an Election
By the end of the Cold War, Americans had become accustomed to the dichotomy between Communism and democracy, and as practitioners of democracy, we generally view it as a more promising path than other forms of government. So it comes as no surprise that the knee-jerk reaction to the turmoil in Egypt is to hold democratic elections so the people can decide for themselves who will provide the mandates they must live by. This is why it is fashionable for men like State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley to suggest that he wants to see "free, fair, and credible elections ... the sooner that can happen, the better." And Barack Obama has expressed the wish to "transition into a new government."There is an inherent problem with the application of this strategy when it comes to much of the Middle East, however. The Egyptians who now seek a reformation do not look to elect an innovator vying for peace; they look to elect an enforcer. You see,...(Read Full Article)
