Bush's Speech

Well, I've met a few Palestinians, and all seemed to feel that democracy was within their reach regardless of who ruled Iraq. And as for women seeing that they can have equal rights, they can see that from Syria, and earlier could in Saddam Hussein's Iraq. Stuff like that aside, I agree with the core of President Bush's vision for a Democratic Middle East, I just have grave doubts he can bring it about.

UPDATE: Just to clarify the above, I don't think Syria and Ba'athist Iraq represent free societies. That would be totally ridiculous. However, President Bush is again using clever rhetoric to conflate secular dictatorships with Islamic radicalism. On issues like women's rights, such systems are polar opposites, and Iraq and Syria were both home to equal opportunity for women long before Bush showed up.