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West must share blame for `freedom deficit' in W. Asia: Bush

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

Washington Nov. 7. The U.S. President, George W Bush, has called for democratic reforms in West Asia arguing that "freedom can be the future of every nation".

Addressing the National Endowment for Democracy, Mr. Bush said that Western nations, the U.S. included, had to take blame for the lack of democratic progress there.

"Sixty years of Western nations excusing and accommodating the lack of freedom in the Middle East (West Asia) did nothing to make us safe because in the long run stability cannot be purchased at the expense of liberty," he noted.

Mr. Bush also praised the resilience of Indian democracy pointing to the fact that "74 years ago the Sunday London Times declared nine-tenths of the population of India to be `illiterates, not caring a fig for politics'.

Yet when democracy was imperilled in the 1970s, the Indian people showed their commitment to liberty in a national referendum that saved their form of government".

"Time after time, observers have questioned whether this country or that people or this group are ready for democracy as if freedom were a prize you win for meeting our own western standards of progress. In fact, the daily work of democracy itself is the path of progress."

Mr. Bush stressed that the "freedom deficit" of West Asia had "terrible consequences" for their own peoples and for the world.

These failures were not because of a culture or a religion. "These are the failures of political and economic doctrines." For too long, he said, the people had been victims and subjects. "They deserve to be active citizens."

Mr. Bush again said that there were profound implications of failing to promote democracy in Iraq.

"This is a massive and difficult undertaking. It is worth our effort. It is worth our sacrifice, because we know the stakes. The failure of Iraqi democracy would embolden terrorists around the world, and increase dangers to American people and extinguish the hopes of millions in the region."

Mr. Bush signed the $87.5-billion supplemental package approved by Congress for Iraq and Afghanistan and for military operations and reconstruction.

He called the financial package a commitment by the U.S. to the global war on terrorism.

"Today the United States is making a critical financial commitment to this global strategy to defeat terror. We're supporting our servicemen and women in the field of battle. We're supporting reconstruction and emergence of democratic institutions in a vital area of the world."

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