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Wayne Besen
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The radical Muslims, particularly the Wahhabi sect, hate us because they adhere to a violent version of Islam that has held back progressive ideas in the Mid East for centuries. But they also hate America because we have wildly incoherent and inconsistent Mid East policies.
For example, George W. Bush talks a good game when it comes to freedom. But he only seems to backup his words when oil is involved or a U.S vital interest is at stake. Thus, we invade Iraq and Afghan under the guise of "liberty" and "democracy".
When it comes to Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, however, the Bush administration does not care if dictators enslave the people, as long as the oil keeps flowing and the peace is kept under the false banner of "stability". This incongruity of word and deed festers and eventually breeds resentment against U.S. interests. To be fair, the record of the Democrats isn't much better. Nonetheless, the Bush family's strong and emotional link to the brutal and barbaric Saudi royal family is unsettling.
The latest example of dictator coddling comes from Laura Bush. She visited Egypt this week as part of her not-so-successful Middle East tour. While there, she praised Egyptian strongman Hosni Mubarak for making electoral reforms meant to break his decades long hold on power.
Except, when you look at the supposed reform, it is a sham. Sure, Parliament approved a constitutional amendment to open presidential elections to other candidates. But there are many rigorous conditions that ultimately make it possible for only members of Mubarak's party to run.
Laura Bush defended the dictator and certainly took the steam out of opposition parties by serving as Mubarak's chief apologist. According to Bush, "you have to be slow" in putting political freedoms into effect. This certainly sounds like a different tune than the one we heard by the administration before Iraq was invaded. In Baghdad, it was so urgent to install freedom that we sent in tanks.
Finally, it is important we get Laura out of the Middle East. We don't want Karl Rove learning any new ideas on how to kill Democracy and rig elections.
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