Democracy Summit Ends In Dispute

Democracy Summit Ends In Dispute

MANAMA, Bahrain, Nov. 12, 2005
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U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice addresses a meeting on Saturday, Nov. 12, in Manama, Bahrain, where foreign ministers from around the world are to discuss the controversial U.S.-backed plan for democratic reform in the Middle East. (AP)


(AP) A U.S.-backed Mideast democracy and development summit ended in rancor Saturday despite adoption of two initiatives that are part of President Bush's push to expand political freedom in a region dominated by monarchies and effective single-party rule.

A draft declaration on democratic and economic principles was scuttled after Egypt insisted on language that would have given Arab governments greater control over charitable and good-government organizations.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice did not speak at the close of the conference, which was hosted by the Group of Eight economic giants and Arab nations but which was largely a U.S. initiative.

Rice used the start of the conference earlier Saturday to criticize political repression in Syria and call for the release of political prisoners there.

"We continue to support the Syrian people's aspirations for liberty, democracy, and justice under the rule of law," Rice said.


snip


http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/11/12/world/main1041339.shtml

actual democracy.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice did not speak at the close of the conference, which was hosted by the Group of Eight economic giants and Arab nations but which was largely a U.S. initiative.

what are the prisoners in Gitmo if not political. Also, Rice talking about "under the rule of law" seems a bit hypocritical.

" political freedom in a region dominated by monarchies and effective single-party rule"

Hypocrits! They've done everything they can think of to suppress the democrats at home, while calling for the rest of their puppet governments to allow the minorities to have a say.

The conference also launched a $50 million foundation aimed at promoting democracy and political reform in the Middle East. Both initiatives were shepherded by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Liz Cheney, the vice president's daughter, who accompanied Rice on a Mideast trip that also includes stops in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Israel and the West Bank.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5410749,00.html

I'm confused. Are they talking about the Middle East or the U.S. here?...

November 13, 2005

MANAMA, Bahrain, Nov. 12 - A meeting of Muslim nations initiated by the Bush administration ended in discord on Saturday after objections by Egypt blocked a final declaration supporting democracy.

The administration did, however, get backing for a $50 million foundation to support political activities in the Muslim world, with money to be raised from American, European and Arab sources, and a $100 million fund half financed by the United States to provide venture capital to businesses.

Diplomats at the conference said Egypt wanted the language in the meeting's final declaration to say that only "legally registered" groups should be aided by the foundation.

The Americans expressed open irritation with Egypt for its efforts to "scuttle," as one put it, what they had hoped would be a milestone in its efforts to promote democracy in the Middle East.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/13/international/middleeast/13rice.html


Who ever thought this woman had the capability to be a Secretary of State? Oh that's right, the same guy who thought Harriet Miers was the most qualified person for the Supreme Court.

Ice cream scoop or satellite receiver?

Probably for Condi's vodka!

:tinfoilhat: :dunce:

obviously a dismal failure. What else can we expect from the BFEE!

Isn't she supposed to be out there making "friends" or something?

Nov. 12 - A U.S.-backed summit meant to promote political freedom and economic change in the Middle East ended Saturday without agreement, a blow to President Bush's goals for the troubled region.

A draft declaration on democratic and economic principle was shelved after Egypt insisted on language that would have given Arab governments greater control over which democracy groups receive money from a new fund.

<snip>

As intended, the 36-nation session launched a $100 million venture capital fund to promote economic enterprise. The fund includes $50 million from the United States, with contributions from Egypt, Morocco and Denmark.

<snip>

Both initiatives were shepherded by U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Liz Cheney, the vice president's daughter. She accompanied Rice on a Mideast trip to Bahrain, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel and the West Bank.

As intended, the 36-nation session launched a $100 million venture capital fund to promote economic enterprise. The fund includes $50 million from the United States, with contributions from Egypt, Morocco and Denmark.

The conference also started a $50 million foundation aimed at promoting democracy and political change in the Middle East.

Both initiatives were shepherded by U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Liz Cheney, the vice president's daughter. She accompanied Rice on a Mideast trip to Bahrain, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel and the West Bank.

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=nation_world&id=3627246
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Another Cheney U.S. foreign policy failure.

AP Coverage at CNN.com:

Many Middle East nations are wary of Bush's second-term democracy agenda for the region. Some organizations that the administration has tried to engage are reluctant to take money from the U.S.

"It would be a disaster for this region if the region thought democracy is an American idea," British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said at the closing press conference, where the final agreement had been expected to be released.

"America is a great country but democracy was born in Greece, just across the Mediterranean" from the Middle East, Straw said.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/11/12/rice.mideast.ap/index.html

The world is on to all of the criminals in the Chimpo's WH ~ they will not allow the CondiChimp to get away with her lies.

Great!

Demand by Egypt Derails Middle East Initiative

By Robin Wright
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, November 13, 2005; Page A24

MANAMA, Bahrain, Nov. 12 -- An international conference intended to advance democracy in the Middle East ended Saturday without a formal declaration, eliciting expressions of disappointment from U.S. officials, who considered the conference a key part of President Bush's regional democracy initiative.

In a surprise move, Egypt, which accounts for more than half the Arab world's population and is the second-largest recipient of U.S. aid, derailed the Forum for the Future by demanding language that would have given Arab governments significant control over which pro-democracy groups would receive aid from a new fund.


Last-ditch diplomacy by the United States -- which was represented at the conference by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice -- failed to get Egypt to budge, and Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit left before the conference broke up. "We made a very clear case," a senior U.S. official at the conference said on condition of anonymity. "There were intensive negotiations. We made clear it would scuttle the declaration"

Participants may have to wait another year for a region-wide declaration, Bahrain's foreign minister, Khalid bin Ahmed Khalifa, said at a news conference here.

more:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/12/AR2005111201040.html