Bush Seeks Democratic Reform in Mideast

[GreenPartyVoter]

ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) - A day after Iraq's new interim government claimed power, President Bush said Tuesday that "freedom is the future of the Middle East," but made clear that what he means by democracy is not wholesale acceptance of Western pop culture.

"When I speak about the blessings of liberty, coarse videos and crass commercialism are not what I have in mind," Bush said in remarks here before ending a five-day trip to Ireland and Turkey. "There is nothing incompatible between democratic values and high standards of decency."

In another self-criticism after acknowledging widespread suspicion of U.S. motives, Bush said: "When some in my country speak in an ill-informed and insulting manner about the Muslim faith, their words are heard abroad, and do great harm to our cause in the Middle East."

But he said Muslims also bear some responsibility for tensions between the two cultures. "When some in the Muslim world incite hatred and murder with conspiracy theories and propaganda, their words are also heard by a generation of young Muslims who need truth and hope, not lies and anger."

http://apnews1.iwon.com//article/20040629/D83GMBI80.html?PG=home&SEC=news

[Richardo]

1. "Some in my country" is NOT "self-criticism"

"I created a huge cluster-f*ck" is a self-criticism.