Le Monde publiceert een artikel over democratisch opportunisme: 'The promotion of democracy advocated by George W. Bush makes for some unexpected emulators. The latest is Hafez Al-Assad's former right-hand man, Abdel Halim Khaddam, who, after faithfully serving the Syrian dictator for close to thirty years, brought the latter's son to power before breaking off with him. Accused of high treason and in refuge in Paris, he denounces Bachar Al-Assad's involvement in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri. His accusation alone will not suffice to bring down the Syrian regime, but in the event that should happen, Abdel Halim Khaddam is signaling to Westerners in general and Americans in particular that he is prepared to play relief. With the intention of distancing himself from the crimes of his former protector, Abdel Halim Khaddam sanctimoniously explains that his powers were limited to diplomacy and that domestic repression was consequently alien to him. He will have more difficulty evading the influence he exerted since the 1970s on Syria's policy in Lebanon. Nonetheless, he can hope to pull off the illusion. In the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, former Communist Party cadres have also converted themselves into zealous democrats, under the colors of social democracy, even of "bourgeois" parties. Since familiarity with the mechanisms of power remains appreciable during transition periods, these more or less sincere conversions create some doubt all the same about the depth of certain changes. These countries' integration into the European Union and NATO is at least a guarantee against backsliding.' Lees verder: In het Frans: http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-3232,36-731496,0.html Of in het Engels:
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/011706H.shtml
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