>>>Mike, Mike, Mike. You should really lose the delusion that freedom will "spread throughout the Middle East, Asia, and Africa." It ain't gonna happen. It isn't even going to last in Iraq when we are no longer there to prop it up at gunpoint. Iraq will plunge into civil war and at the end of it a new strongman -- more likely, a Muslim theocracy similar to the one in Iran -- will emerge. Iraqis won't be any more free than they ever were.
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>>So, you think that instead of working toward a different future we should.... speed up the process? Or what? What are you suggesting we should do about this? Totally ignore it?
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>I think we should focus on places where we have a real chance to change things. Bringing democracy to the Islamic world does not strike me as being in that category. We also have to recognize that the current administration is so little respected or trusted around the world that we aren't going to have much impact anywhere at the moment. That is coming through loud and clear with the reaction to U.S. proposals in Argentina this week.

Watching President Bush on the Spanish news stations gives me the feeling that his speeches in Argentina were the worst he has given in public! This is the leader of the worlds most powerful nation? Que pena!