In Syria, Iraq's Fate Silences Rights Activists

[Rose Siding]

DAMASCUS, Syria -- Horror at the bloodshed accompanying the U.S. effort to bring democracy to Iraq has accomplished what human rights activists, analysts and others say Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had been unable to do by himself: silence public demands for democratic reforms here.

The idea of the government as a bulwark of stability and security has long been the watchword of Syrian bureaucrats and village elders. But since Iraq's descent into sectarian and ethnic war -- and after Israel's war with Hezbollah in Lebanon, on the other side of Syria -- even Syrian activists concede that the country's feeble rights movement is moribund.

Advocates of democracy are equated now with supporters of America, even "traitors," said Maan Abdul Salam, 36, a Damascus publisher who has coordinated conferences on women's rights and similar topics.

"Now, talking about democracy and freedom has become very difficult and sensitive," Salam said. "The people are not believing these thoughts anymore. When the U.S. came to Iraq, it came in the name of democracy and freedom. But all we see are bodies, bodies, bodies."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/25/AR2006102501893_pf.html

[rodeodance]

1. to them democracy (via the US & Israel) translates in death.

[Amonester]

2. the same to many Iraqis

they don't even have flowers anymore

[Nolo_Contendre]

3. Bush pretends to be rocking the cradle of democracy

with one hand while machinegunning the baby with the other.

[struggle4progress]

4. FratBoy has set the worldwide human rights struggle back fifty years

[wellst0nev0ter]

5. What An Insidious Legacy

I forget, Bush said an outburst some time ago like "I'm the greatest human rights president" or something. Anyone remember?

[magellan]

6. Bush** makes democracy look so bad even Syria are afraid of it.

Now that's a bumper sticker. And a very sad one.

[Zenlitened]

7. The democracy movement in Iran died a similar death.

There are only two possibilities here:

The Bushocons didn't know what effect parking America's military in Iraq would have on reform movements in neighboring mid-east countries.

In which case, they are too stupid to govern and should be dragged away in chains immediately, to stand trial for endangering our national security by gross failure in their duties.

Or they knew perfectly well what the effect would be, and it fits beautifully with their plans for perpetual war.

In which case, they are too evil to govern, and should be dragged away in chains immediately, to stand trial for treason.

:grr:

[bemildred]

8. Gee, who could have predicted this?

Seriously, exactly this effect has been predicted any number of times by writers I have seen here and elsewhere urging less hostility and more engagement with Syria. The Second Lebanon War would seem likely to have strengthened Little Assad too. It is just such a stupid policy.