Have the Middle East Muslims......

[trt]

starting to realize that democracy is not against the law.

Going by the past week after Egypt succeeded, then Iran and Yemen have started their protest and now Bahrain today?

[jake-the-peg]

I think ,from todays news in Bahrain and what's leaking out of Lybia that Middle Eastern rulers have decided not to allow what happened in Egypt to happen in their back door.

Egypt was only possible beause of the consent of the Army - something that I'm sure has not escaped notice

[anotheoldgit]

Who says it is democracy that they are after?

[jake-the-peg]

Well a few thousand protestors in Egypt seemed pretty adamant about it

[youngmafbog]

Well Jake they wanted the dictator out but it may not be democracy (at least in the way we think of it) that all want.

I suspect Egypt is a slightly different case and indeed as you point out it was becasue of the army that he was toppled.

They are coming down hard and killing people in other Arab states. It wont be pretty whatever the outcome, plus without the Army supporting democracy all they are likely to achieve is to swap to Islamic fundamentalist state, so not much difference.

[anotheoldgit]

jake-the-peg

/// Well a few thousand protestors in Egypt seemed pretty adamant about it ///

They haven't gone to the polls yet, perhaps we should first wait and see their reactions at the outcome of that?

[mightywease]

But democracy is "going to the polls"? Or at least being free to do so.

[jake-the-peg]

It doesn't look likely that Egypt will go for an Islamic theocracy.

They will be an Islamic state - they already are the principals of Islam are writte into their constitution in the same was as the principals of Christianity are writte into ours.

That might be different in other Middle Eastern states - Yemen for example

[anotheoldgit]

mightywease

/// But democracy is "going to the polls"? Or at least being free to do so.///

No I disagree, democracy is going to the polls, and then accepting the outcome of the vote, even if it differs from what you wanted the outcome to be.

So we can only wait and see.

[Brenden]

I have these awful feelings that these "protests" have been orchestrated with the intent of destabilising countries - is Europe on this list?

[mightywease]

Oh so democracy is like the rigged elections that have been happening in Egypt for the last few years? That is democracy is it and the people should have accepted it?

If we go by that definition then perhaps people shouldn't complain about the elections in this country....or in Europe. I mean the euro MP's have been elected and therefore under your definition, people, including yourself, should accept that and the laws that result from it.

[modeller]

Bahrain is a sort of democracy the lower house is elected by the populous but the upper house is entirely appointed by the king and has the final decision.
Shias are well represented in the lower house but not in the upper. The opposition are dominated by the Shias who it is claimed are trained by Iran . If this is true should the protesters win it could be another Iran . However this may happen in any Arab state in which case the clerics may rule much of the Arab world

[DTCwordfan]

Even though there is a Shiite majority in Bahrain, I don't think they will accept a 'cleric' led system - they can see easily what Iran has to cope with.

The Emirates also have a significant Shiite population.........

I too fret, and have said, that this is being orchestrated from behind....and the action of Iran as to sailing warships into the Suez is provocative. There are going to have to be some cool nerves, especially with Israel as any deliberate provocation, they will be turning the key to on as to their missile systems.

[anotheoldgit]

mightywease

///.or in Europe. I mean the euro MP's have been elected and therefore under your definition, people, including yourself, should accept that and the laws that result from it. ///

Yes it is a hard bullet to bite on, we all know that , but the alternative is anarchy.

[sandyRoe]

When Hamas was elected the world didn't rush to recognise a new democratic force in the Middle East. Democracy seems OK if the people elected are the right ones.

[DTCwordfan]

Lee Kwan Yieu, ex benign 'dictator' of Singapore once made a comment that, to me, was very resonant.

"Democracy does not have a chance of taking off until GDP per capita attains $20000."

Interesting to note Middle Eastern levels above 20k and in descending order, Qatar, UAE Kuwait, Israel Bahrain, ...just under 20 Saudi and Oman, Libya at 17k. and a big drop to Lebanon at 7k, and a long tail of Iran, Algeria, Tunisia, Jordan, Iraq, Syria,Morocco, Egypt (2.2k), Yemen.

Mmmmm I wonder if stability can be maintained.

[DTCwordfan]

http://www.globalprop.../Egypt/gdp-per-capita

the stats if anybody is interested...

[WShee9]

Funny the omly stable fully democratic country in the middle east(Israel)isnt having any of these problems...

[DTCwordfan]

so far, WShee, so far...........

[WShee9]

Democracy defeats tyrrany every time,DT crosswordfan...lets hope THAT at least continues....

[DTCwordfan]

I do too - just hope the Iranians behave - or their folk really go onto the streets and overthrow the Tehran religious nutcases. The Ayatollahs are out to needle Israel, I fear,,,,,,,,,and we know that Jerusalem will (underscored) take appropriate action.