G-8 Poised to Back U.S. Plan for Mideast Democracy

[maddezmom]

But Some Skeptical Officials and Nations Say the Initiative Isn't Supported by Funding or Fresh Ideas
By Glenn Kessler and Robin Wright
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, June 8, 2004; Page A05


SAVANNAH, Ga., June 7 -- The Bush administration's plan to promote democracy in the Middle East -- the centerpiece of its agenda at this week's summit of the Group of Eight industrialized nations -- has been accepted by Europeans and Arabs only reluctantly, and some administration officials fear that the program's goals have been undermined to ensure its acceptance at the summit.


White House officials have said the plan, which is intended to unite all of the administration's Middle Eastern initiatives under a common theme, grew out of a speech by President Bush last year, saying the United States was wrong to support autocratic governments in a search for Middle East "stability."

But others in the administration said the G-8 initiative was driven primarily by White House officials who are not experts on the Middle East. In their account, those officials focused on either trying to bridge gaps between the Europeans and the Americans on key issues or on trying to ensure a "deliverable" at the summit that would obscure the turmoil in Iraq and the failure to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The G-8 leaders will formally adopt the plan at the conclusion of the summit, which will be held in Sea Island, Ga., Tuesday through Thursday. A draft version circulating among summiteers said it would include creating a "forum for the future" to provide a "ministerial framework for our ongoing dialogue." It would also form a democracy assistance group that would coordinate efforts by individual nations from outside the region, begin an initiative to lend money to small businesses, and establish a task force on changing the investment climate.

~snip~
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23280-2004Jun7.html

[GoBlue]

1. Gosh, you'd think the G-8 'leaders'

might want to debate something like this at the G-8 meeting. Oh, nevermind. I keep forgetting that Bush is God's Chosen one and Ronnie's legacy.

[teryang]

2. Jeckyl Island would have been more appropriate

Pious words and empty platitudes accompany the pillaging of resources.

[dusty64]

3. So the plan offers nothing new

and provides a fig leaf for our regime to hide behind, yet they are poised to approve it anyway. I don't get it.