"The world has changed, we're not living in the fifties anymore, and when a tyrant is kicked out, no other tyrant can claim his place," writes Omar of Iraq the Model in an analysis-cum-anecdotes of why -- as GW told assembled European leaders in Brussels this morning -- "Freedom is on the march":
Why? Because nothing can be done behind closed doors anymore, the whole world can watch and have a say in almost everything everywhere, and the era when thugs could reach power against a nation's choice is over. The world has simply changed, and the change cannot be reversed.
We like the sound of that [the sound of a pipedream? -- ed via Susie]. Back in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, GW famously grabbed a bullhorn at Ground Zero and told a chanting, cheering crowd "I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you. And the people who knocked down these buildings will hear all of us soon."
Saddam heard us, Quadaffi heard us, and now the Mullahs of Iran and the dictators of Syria and other soul-crushing regimes in the region and in the larger world are nervously starting to hear us. GW's bite behind the bark of the dog, together with the technology of blogging, is opening up the marketplace of ideas to the oppressed of the world. Let them speak, and may the best ideas win.
It really took many things coming together at once for all of this to happen. Even 10 years ago - while we might have won in Afghanistan... there is no way we could have won out over the press on Iraq coverage. (not that Clinton would've done anything but lob a few missles, but you get the point) The internet, blogs, the advent of talk radio, and a President who is not afraid for his political life, have completely turned the world on it's collective ear. All I can say is... it's about time!
Posted by: Teresa | February 22, 2005 at 03:27 PM