Jim Geraghty of TKS notes this auspicious quote in today's David Ignacius column in the Washington Post:

The leader of this Lebanese intifada [for independence from Syria] is Walid Jumblatt, the patriarch of the Druze Muslim community and, until recently, a man who accommodated Syria's occupation. But something snapped for Jumblatt last year, when the Syrians overruled the Lebanese constitution and forced the reelection of their front man in Lebanon, President Emile Lahoud. The old slogans about Arab nationalism turned to ashes in Jumblatt's mouth, and he and Hariri openly began to defy Damascus...

"It's strange for me to say it, but this process of change has started because of the American invasion of Iraq," explains Jumblatt. "I was cynical about Iraq. But when I saw the Iraqi people voting three weeks ago, 8 million of them, it was the start of a new Arab world." Jumblatt says this spark of democratic revolt is spreading. "The Syrian people, the Egyptian people, all say that something is changing. The Berlin Wall has fallen. We can see it."

I keep talking about the transformative power of democracy as the one strategy that will topple the tyrants of the Middle East and allow for true peace, rather than temporary stalemates. The neocons have it right; the only way to achieve victory over terrorists is to deprive them of state sponsorship from the kleptocracts and mullahcrats in Southwest Asia and North Africa. The only way to get that is to topple the tyrants and push for self-determination and freely elected governments, and it only takes one or two examples in the region before everyone there starts wondering when their turn will come.

Lebanon may soon stop wondering, and that will be a day of rejoicing.

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» Lebanon: Strange, Wonderful Goings-On from WILLisms.com
In the week following the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, some strange and wonderful things are happening in Lebanon. Freedom, perhaps, is on the march in Lebanon. David Ignatius, writing in The Washington Post, examines "... [Read More]

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» Rip & Read Blogger Podcast for 2005-02-23 from Rip & Read Blogger Podcast
Here's what I ripped and read in my Podcast today: Captain Ed at The Captains Quarters says: I keep talking about the transformative power of democracy as the one strategy that will topple the tyrants of the Middle East and allow for true... [Read More]

Tracked on February 23, 2005 2:05 PM

» Beirut and Berlin from DOUBLE TOOTHPICKS
Many of us knew that the Iraqi election was the shot heard 'round the Arab world. And now we have proof... "Freedom or death..." Patrick Henry would be proud. [Read More]

Tracked on February 24, 2005 7:24 AM

» Southern Lebanon votes in party defined as terrorist  from Fear of Clowns
In free elections, Hezbollah sweeps the first round of Lebanese elections, [Read More]

Tracked on June 6, 2005 3:29 AM