“The Right Path to Arab Democracy”

The Bush administration is right to support democratization in the Arab world. The question is how to do it. If we push too hard, it could be thought we are imposing our will; if we fail to push hard enough, it could be thought we support freedom everywhere except in the Arab world. A balance must be found.
During these last months, we have co-chaired the Council on Foreign Relations commission called “In support of Arab Democracy: Why and How”. We concluded that instead of revolution, evolution had to be encouraged. A country-by country approach is required, not a global one. There is too much diversity in the Arab world and we can not count on a single solution. Arab leaders must be encouraged to make reforms and denounced when such reforms are not implemented.
Non violent democratic groups must be supported, Muslims should not be excluded from the process and minorities must feel we trust in them. The expansion of independent media outlets in the Arab world which may qualify the United States’ bad image must be promoted. Our diplomacy must insist on democratic reform. The countries which implement reforms must be rewarded with economic assistances.