Burning question

In today's "Saturday Spin" in the P-I, David Horsey has asked another of his "burning questions", to wit: If democracy takes root in the Middle East, how much credit should be given to George W. Bush? [Emphasis mine]

In David's article, he leads up to his "burning question" by relating an insipid story of how he watched the incipient democracy movement flicker briefly in Tiananmen Square until it (was brutally crushed) ended, with another P-I reporter, and then reels off the string of the failed democracy movements in Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and again, Tiananmen Square, while briefly mentioning the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the falling of the Berlin Wall (which, in case you hadn't noticed David, are related events), neglecting to mention Afghanistan or the Ukraine - at all.

David's entire article is rooted in pessimism, as evidenced by the very first word of his question - if. David, in case you haven't noticed, democracy has already taken root in the Middle East!

Let's see if we can answer David's "burning question", shall we?

Afghanistan freed of an evil tyrannical government, and the population allowed to vote - for the first time ever! - because GWB saw the danger posed by the Al-Qaida training camps funded and protected by the former Afghan regime.

Iraq freed of an evil tyrannical government, and the population allowed to vote - for the first time in almost 50 years - because GWB saw a real and present danger in the former regime.

In Palestine, Arafat the kleptocrat finally dies (bet he was surprised when those virgins weren't there!), and they hold elections there (ok, so they were rigged and another terrorist now runs that fledgling government).

Egypt will be holding presidential elections this year, and more than one candidate will be allowed on the ballot since Mubarek attained that office with the killing of Sadat.

Men recently voted in Saudi Arabia, and it is rumored that women will soon be allowed to vote - for the first time ever! - there too.

There are pro-democracy demonstrations happening in Lebanon against the Syrian oppression/occupation, which has caused the Lebanese government to resign en-masse in protest over the Syrian oppression/occupation; Hezbollah has organized demonstrations, too - in support of their masters, the Syrians - but, so what? They haven't had nearly the numbers of people in their demonstrations, as those who have demonstrated against Syria.

There have also been reports of pro-democracy demonstrations in Syria, for Pete's sake! Small, and infrequent, to be sure, but apparently they have happened!

In conclusion, since democracy has taken root in the Middle East (David - get your head out of that place where the sun never shines, and open your eyes, dude!), and that is a result of GWB's vision, forthrightness, and determination, as seen through the actions in Afghanistan and Iraq (who's next - Syria or Iran?) by the US military, I can only say that the credit for that belongs to GWB AND the determination of the freed people, and those yearning to be free, of the Middle East.