> None more than GW Bush.
And all those who predicted that the US will leave as soon as democracy is established by holding elections :-) > From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date: 2005/05/19 Thu AM 09:40:49 EDT > To: Dilip/Dil Deka <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > ASSAMNETCOLORADO <assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu> > Subject: Re: [Assam] Patience Is Needed as Nations Build a Democracy? > > None more than GW Bush. > > > > > > From: Dilip/Dil Deka <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Date: 2005/05/19 Thu AM 09:17:13 EDT > > To: ASSAMNETCOLORADO <assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu> > > Subject: [Assam] Patience Is Needed as Nations Build a Democracy? > > > > Does anyone need a lesson in history? :-) > > Dilip > > > =============================================== > =============== > > Bush Says Patience Is Needed as Nations Build a DemocracyPublished: May > 19, 2005 > > > > WASHINGTON, May 18 - President Bush called Wednesday for patience in > assessing the progress of Iraq and other nations toward democracy. He said > the United States had gotten off to a rocky start after its independence and > that it could take years for newly free countries to establish the > institutions > necessary for stability and prosperity. > > > > Speaking to the International Republican Institute, Mr. Bush said the > American Revolution had been followed by "years of chaos," and that the first > effort to develop a governing charter, the Articles of Confederation, had > "failed miserably." > > > > "No nation in history has made the transition from tyranny to a free society > without setbacks and false starts," Mr. Bush said. "What separates those > nations that succeed from those that falter is their progress in establishing > free institutions." > > > > Mr. Bush has been criticized for underestimating how difficult it would be > to stabilize and rebuild Iraq, and his remarks amounted to an argument as to > why the transition from tyranny to democracy there and elsewhere is > inherently challenging and prone to setbacks. > > > > Mr. Bush listed a widely agreed upon set of prerequisites for success, > including freedom of speech and assembly, a market economy and the rule of > law. > > > > He added another, freedom of worship, "because respect for the beliefs of > others is the only way to build a society where compassion and tolerance > prevail." > > > > Mr. Bush used the speech to continue his gradual reversal from a central > commitment of the 2000 presidential campaign: that he would never use the > United States military for what he called "nation building." > > > > On Wednesday night, he celebrated the military's nation-building role, > saying that while "the main purpose of our military is to find and defeat the > terrorists overseas," members of the armed forces are "also undertaking a > less visible, but increasingly important task: helping the people of these > nations build civil societies from the rubble of oppression." > > > > Aides to Mr. Bush have said that his change of view began early in his first > term, during a visit to Kosovo. But even then, he seemed to draw limits on > what kind of nation-building activities he thought were appropriate. > > > > On Wednesday, he celebrated the military's participation in actions that are > normally considered civilian. > > > > In Afghanistan, he noted, "Provincial Reconstruction Teams" were "helping > the Afghan government to fix schools, dig wells, build roads, repair hospitals, > and build confidence in the ability of Afghanistan's elected leaders to deliver > real change in people's lives." > > > > In Iraq, he noted, the First Cavalry Division began "Operation Adam Smith - > setting up local chambers of commerce, providing Iraqi entrepreneurs with > small business loans, and teaching them important skills like accounting, > marketing and writing business plans." > > > > He also talked about his proposal to create a new civilian Active Response > Corps to help newly formed governments build institutions, including courts > and tax systems. > > > > The initial budget proposal for the office is small, about $24 million, but > White House officials have said they expect the program will expand. > > > > The president said promoting democracy was in the national interest > because it would "isolate and defeat the forces of terror, and ensure a > peaceful future for our citizens." > > > > Mr. Bush, who was introduced by his onetime rival for the Republican > presidential nomination, Senator John McCain of Arizona, cited the progress > toward democracy across the former Soviet Union and in the Middle East. > > > > But freedom, he said, can create political vacuums and instability, citing the > struggles in recent years in Slovakia, Romania and Ukraine. > > > > "Democratic change and free elections are exhilarating events," he said. > "Yet we know from experience that they can be followed by moments of > uncertainty. When people risk everything to vote, it can raise expectations > that their lives will improve immediately - but history teaches that the path to > a free society is long and not always smooth." > > > > David E. Sanger contributed reporting for this article. > > > > > > > > > >
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