Can the U.S. gain our trust? [Archives:2003/684/Viewpoint]

After listening to G. W. Bush's speech on the need to bring democracy to the Middle East, and his confession that the U.S. was not right in supporting dictators in the region for 60 years, I wonder, why has it taken the U.S. administration so long to realize this?
Regardless of the fact that the U.S. administrations realizes supporting brutal regimes was not in its favor after all, and regardless that it is encouraging democracy merely for its own interest, it is still a positive development that we have waited for.
The constructive criticism of the way the U.S. government has been handling its affairs brings hope in that the administration will start realizing that it is the people who are more important than regimes.
Nevertheless, the narrow view of U.S. interests in all of this once again brings U.S.picion. “Wait a minute, Bush didn't say this for the sake of the people, who have been chained and enslaved by their regimes for so long, but rather for U.S.'s own security,” one could say.
On the other hand, this is normal, because U.S. presidents usually talk to their people and not the world. They are explaining to those who will vote for or against them in future elections, so they care little about the Arabs who were the subject of discussion. So, it would be obvious that Bush will have one eye on what American people will gain from Arabs being free and living in true democracy, not the view of Arabs.
Still, it's a positive opinion in my view, and an eye-opener for our Arab regimes who have demonstrated they are much too loyal to the U.S., and donors to their own people. At least now they will begin to feel the need for change into democracy after decades of cruel dictatorships. This could be a turning point for them if they know the U.S. is not giving the green light for oppression for the sake of preserving U.S. interests.
It seems the U.S. is no longer worried about pleasing regimes, and giving them what they want. It seems to feel the frustration of those oppressed in Arab countries, and that's resulting in a nightmare in security scenarios, both within the U.S. and elsewhere in the world. This is why giving freedom could help reduce hatred against the U.S.
However, the U.S. administration needs to start implementing ideas mentioned recently by Bush, by stopping oppression of opposition parties and individuals in the name of the 'war on terror'. Perhaps this could be where it needs to start. Today, thousands of Arab citizens are in prison without trial or accusation just because they are suspected of having relations to possible terrorist elements. This is in itself a direct violation of freedom and human rights, and should be corrected.
The U.S. needs to understand that it cannot have it both ways. It cannot call for democracy and freedom, and urge Arab regimes to capture whoever has a beard in the street, with shaky and unreliable suspicions. It cannot guarantee its security while maintaining a strong grip on democracy in the Middle East through its 'loyal' regimes.
We will all be waiting to see the next step to be taken by the U.S., and we will also be looking at the agenda of the months and years ahead in bringing democracy to our region.
——
[archive-e:684-v:13-y:2003-d:2003-11-09-p:view]