Is the US through with Arab democracy?

This is the rhetorical question posed by Carnegie scholar Amr Hamzawy, in an op-ed in the Daily star yesterday.

He continues like this: ¨In sharp contrast to its rhetoric, the administration recently adopted several policy measures that suggest a lukewarm commitment to democracy promotion, if not a reversal of the trajectory altogether.¨

And ends by : ¨It may be understandable that the Bush administration has grown fearful of the possible outcomes of promoting Arab democracy. Yet placing hopes in soft diplomacy when dealing with autocrats and punishing Arab citizens for their electoral choices by retreating from democracy promotion are not the right answer. The Arab world is a ticking bomb and only real democratic openings can slow down the timer.¨

I couldn´t agree more!

U.S aid, US-Arab relations , US democracy promotion in the Arab World, Amr Hamzawy