"... The piece left out so many big examples of the contradictions -- Musharraf/Pakistan, Saudi Arabia whose corrupt royal family is so close to the White House and Cheney's office, the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt -- of where Bush has decided he isn't quite sure he really wants democratic realities to be realized, and he just may prefer the tyrant, as Cheney openly does in Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia ..."
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I have to disagree that the 'Democracy Vision' is stalled, at least in reference to Saudi Arabia.
Instead, I see a policy that is actually nuanced correctly, keeping pressure on the Saudi government through direct talks, through official government statements and annual reports such as those covering Religious Freedom, Trafficking in Persons, and Human Rights in general.
Saudi Arabia is a far more complex society than most Americans realize. Erroneous labels like 'absolute monarchy' lead people to believe that the King can wave his wand and change will be accomplished.
Instead, Saudis rulers govern through consensus, reaching agreement among the various senior interest groups. Among those are the conservative Ulema, the liberal business establishment, the conservative tribes, as well as the Al-Saud family, itself divided over the future direction of the country.
If nothing else, the Saudi royal family has no suicide wish. It cannot force change faster than it can be accepted by society on the whole and that society is profoundly conservative.
The year 1979 was seminal in forming current Saudi political practice. That year saw not only the Iranian Revolution (teaching a very clear lesson about reform imposed from above, too quick for society to integrate), but also the seizure of the Grand Mosque in Mecca by religious fundamentalists (showing just how deeply fearful of change elements of Saudi society were).
The Administration continues to criticize the KSA for its slow pace of reform, but also acknowledges that reform is taking place.
If you're interested in following reform efforts--and backsliding--in Saudi Arabia, you might want to visit my blog Crossroads Arabia.
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