Wittes: Bush Bungled the Promotion of Democracy
World Affairs Council: Nor Cal - World Affairs Council
A combination of growing populations, economic stagnation, and political alienation poses a serious risk to stability in today's Middle East.These forces are testing the legitimacy and governance of key states, limiting their ability to work with the United States on regional priorities such as stabilizing Iraq and combating terrorism.While the United States cannot afford to be neutral or passive in the face of these changes, how far should America go to wield its power and influence in support of democratic reform in the region?Tamara Cofman Wittes joins the Council to discuss why democracy promotion in the Arab world remains an essential component of any long-term American strategy in the Middle East - World Affairs Council of Northern California