Middle East Democracy Debate: Natan Sharansky (7 of 12)

"Spreading democracy in the Middle East is a bad idea."

Moderator: Robert Siegel
Speaking for the motion: Flynt Leverett, Dimitri Simes and Shibley Telhami
Speaking against the motion: Liz Cheney, Danielle Pletka and Natan Sharansky

IQ2US marks the launch of Oxford-style debating -- one motion, one moderator, three advocates for the motion, three against -- in New York City. Each evening begins at 6:00P with a complimentary cocktail period. As you enter the theater before the debate starts at 6:45P, you cast your vote for or against the evening's motion. Those results are displayed midway through the debate as each side makes its statements. After all six panelists speak, the audience has a chance to ask the speakers questions and vote again. The debate finishes with brief summations from the panelists, the votes are tallied and a winning side is declared.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• intelligence
• squared
• u.s.
• iq2
• debate
• Natan
• Sharansky
• Middle
• East
• Arab
• Israel
• Iraq
• America
• spreading
• democracy

[abumiz]

This ignorant needs to learn about the US policies and the history of colonialism before opening his mouth about democracy.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country! watch?v=ee6SdmmCN5Y

He "forgot" the colonial states role to divide the Arabs into 22 states, and with puppet kings and princess like in Saudi Arabia and other states to ease the west theft to Arabs' resources, mainly oil. If the Arabs were free no criminal state can steal them.

Short lesson: watch?v=Pw12KGSj53k

[longleggedmakdaddy]

GREAT MAN!

[HashimC]

I agree fully with what Mr. Sharansky said, he is a wise man.

[theforeigner85]

Does transfer now equate to ethnic cleansing ? I suppose the Jewish settlers Israel removed and transferred to Israel from Gaza were ethnically cleansed as well then.

Hamas are prepared to do many things except agree to peace: the most important thing, and the only thing that has been repeatedly asked of them.

Does Israel imprison or attack opposition members within Israel ? Do they silence the press ? Do they bar demonstrations ? No, no, and no.

Hamas are fascist religious supremacists.

[realitycheck1883]

Hamas were prepared to enter a National Unity government with Fatah. It was also not "democratic" for the Israelis to imprison so many elected Palestinian MPs and Ministers immediately after the election. And what about recent Israeli Cabinet ministers in favour of "transfer" of the Palestinian population ie. ethnic cleansing. Not very democratic either.

[theforeigner85]

Have you ever considered they voted for undemocratic people ? Yes, it's possible. Can you seriously claim that HAMAS is democratic ? How have they treated their opposition ? They've beaten people for simply wearing checkered scarfs associated with Fatah. They've fired upon Fatah demonstrators. They used democracy to elect fascist thugs. I am not at all a hypocrite when I say they voted for the wrong party, because they are not democratic, I would be a hypocrite if I said otherwise !

[rudyrodnase]

And the Germans voted for Hitler. Did that make Nazi Germany a democracy?? No it was the US Army that made it one again.

[realitycheck1883]

The reason Middle East democracy is so difficult is because the people keep voting for the "wrong" people and this is not allowed. For example, Palestinians voted for Hamas in free elections, the Iranians for Mossadeq and the Algerians for Islamists.