After being a supporter of the Iraq war,I've recently come to the conclusion that most Middle Easterners don't understand democracy,don't wan't democracy and certainly don't deserve democracy.If free elections in Turkey - the most secular of Muslim nations - lead to the Islamist parties taking power, what hope is there for the rest of them?

Our view of the Islamic world is severely distorted by the fact that most Middle Eastern Muslims liable to get heard in the West are members of these nations' small,liberal elites.They are a minority.

At this point it is reasonable to ask, what is to be done, then?I don't know.I just don't believe that the removal of the Assads and Abdullahs would lead to anything better.I mean, just look at what's happening to Iraq's Christians now that their Muslim countrymen are "free".Nice,huh?

Turkey just held a rally (est 700,000 to 1 million in attendance) to stand against Sharia law and for a secular nation. Middle Easterners do understand Democracy far more than our very own American Democrats.

Bitter man,

I understand that supporting democrats in the ME is supporting a beleagured minority.

All the more reason to support them IMO.

Change will be hard. It will take a long time. There will be many missteps.

The question is: is it worth doing?

You know my answer.