Exciting Times Part II

President Bush's resolve to bring down Saddam Hussein has led to exciting changes in the Middle East. For the first time in years, people in Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt, and even Syria (!) are protesting FOR democratic reforms with positive results. This ain't your mama's Middle East! Hopefully Iran will be next through the peaceful demonstrations and protests of the huge student movement. Even the Palestinians are acting more responsibly at news of the suicide bombing in Tel Aviv. You'd think we entered the Twilight Zone. All of us were getting far too comfortable with the status quo thinking that the Middle East could only be "contained" but not reformed. Granted we're in the early stages yet, but hopefully these sparks will start a flame of freedom that cannot be extinguished. Michael Ledeen of National Review has an excellent article summing up the revolutionary fervor that has spread and is spreading throughout the world

Iraq
The Iraqis are protesting the terrorists and in doing so they're taking ownership of their own safety.

Lebanon
Lebanon asserts their right to sovereignty and protests the Syrian occupation of their country. Assad may even comply and pull out his troops! Following is the sentiment of a Druze leader long a critic of the US, as reported by David Ignatius:,

"It's strange for me to say it, but this process of change has started because of the American invasion of Iraq. I was cynical about Iraq. But when I saw the Iraqi people voting three weeks ago, 8 million of them, it was the start of a new Arab world. The Syrian people, the Egyptian people, all say that something is changing. The Berlin Wall has fallen. We can see it."

For more info about exciting times in Lebanon check out the Muslim American Society.

Egypt
Protests in Egypt forced Mubarak to change the constitution to allow other candidates to run against him in the next election. Condi Rice played a huge role in encouraging the protestors by cancelling her visit to Mubarak after he arrested a dissident political voice.

Syria
After witnessing the effects of the protesting in Lebanon, intellectuals and dissidents are attempting to protest the tyrannical government of Assad.


Palestine
Remember all the dancing in the streets whenever Israelis were killed by suicide bombers? Not this time. They want the truce to hold between them and Israel so they're not real happy about the lastest suicide bombing in Tel Aviv.

Iran
Students will bring down the mullahs in favor of democracy.