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22 April 2007

Democracy... in the Middle East

Pop quiz... when is a dictatorship actually "a democracy"?

Answer... When Baath Party leader and President Bashar Assad says it is...
Unlike the polls in Nigeria or France, there is almost no contest and voters are not showing much interest.

But in Syria, in effect ruled by one party, there is no room for real politics, says the BBC's Kim Ghattas, a situation reflected in widespread apathy among the electorate.
But they have a parliament... it must be a free and democratic land.
Adding to voter apathy is the mostly nominal role of the parliament - it cannot give or withdraw confidence to the government; it cannot draft laws, only debate those sent to it by the government; and it has no say in foreign policy.

Its first task will be to approve the Baath Party nomination of the president, Bashar Assad, for a second seven-year term.

Mr Assad will be the only candidate in a July referendum.
Okay... I get it. It's one of those "nudge, nudge, wink, wink" democracies the lefties are always holding up as modern day political miracles.

The ones, curiously enough, nobody... including Maher Arar... wants to live in.

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