Monday, March 28, 2005
Islamism feeding off democracy
Daniel Pipes warily welcomes the march toward democracy in the Middle East, but summarises the concern many of us may have been feeling:
"
- Yes, (Palestinian Authority Chairman) Mahmoud Abbas wishes to end the armed struggle against Israel but his call for a greater jihad against the "Zionist enemy" points to his intending another form of war to destroy Israel.
- The Iraqi elections are bringing Ibrahim al-Jaafari, a pro-Iranian Islamist, to power.
- Likewise, the (recent, unprecedented)) Saudi (municipal) elections proved a boon for the Islamist candidates.
- (Hosni) Mubarak's promise (of allowing opposing Egyptian presidential candidates to run against him for the first time) is purely cosmetic; but should real presidential elections one day come to Egypt, Islamists will probably prevail there too.
- Removing Syrian control in Lebanon could well lead to Hezbollah, a terrorist group, becoming the dominant power there.
- Eliminating the hideous Assad dynasty could well bring in its wake an Islamist government in Damascus.
"Note a pattern? ...
"Sadly, Islamists uniquely have what it takes to win elections: the talent to develop a compelling ideology, the energy to found parties, the devotion to win supporters, the money to spend on electoral campaigns, the honesty to appeal to voters, and the will to intimidate rivals." (emph. mine)
Pipes is a renowned Middle East historian and also, as he proudly notes, often called a 'neo-conservative' - not only by sniping cliques to the left.
So his warning is worth keeping in mind. What to do about it is another question.
