In a surprising development, Egytpian President Hosni Mubarak has opened the door to multi-candidate presidential polls in Egypt. Mubarak has been in power since 1981 & has never had to face electoral opposition to his position as President. Egypt has not had a contested election since 1952. The move came a few day after Secretary of State Rice cancelled a visit with Mubarak, a move seen as a sign of Washington's displeasure with Mubarak's failure at reform. The next Presidential election is this September.
Mubarak, 76, said he had proposed parliament change the constitution "to give the opportunity to political parties to enter the presidential elections and provide guarantees that allow more than one candidate to be put forward to the presidency for people to choose among them freely. I took the reins of this initiative in order to start a new era ... on the way of reform."
South of Egypt, the leader of the small country of Togo has promised free & democratic elections this April. Faure Gnassingbe recently assumed the Presidency after the death of his autocratic father.
In Lebanon, the pot has been stirred with the assassination of a popular political leader by suspected Syrian operatives. Syria has occupied the country for over 20 years & in effect controls the country. But the Lebanese have responded, Christians & Muslims alike, for Syria to finally get out of Lebanon.
All this comes on the heels of the successful Afghan & Iraqi elections, as well as the recent Palestinian elections. Even Saudi Arabia held it first ever municipal elections.
The Bush doctrine may just be succeeding - encouraging & supporting democracy in the Middle East. But dollars to donuts, the naysayers & Bush haters will continue wishing the rest of the world failure in any attempts at democracy if in the process each successful step to a more democratic world validates Bush's policies & his vision.
....from sea to shining sea