Saudi Arabia to Hold Historic Elections

If this means anything substantial, it is a vindication of George W. Bush's presidency and policies in the Middle East. Sure lots of blood has been shed and I'm sure the W administration didn't go into Iraq for all altruistic reasons but if it becomes the spark that sets Democracy or something like it loose in the Middle East, GW Bush will go down in history as one of the greats.

Choke on that Air America!

"Less than two weeks after elections in Iraq confounded media predictions of failure and showed that Arabs would indeed grab their chance for freedom, Saudi Arabia is set to hold its own historic first round of democratic elections.

The amazing development has gone virtually unreported in the American press, undoubtedly because it adds even further vindication to President Bush's decision to press the Iraqi liberation.

Reporting out of its Riyadh bureau on Friday, however, the Associated Press detailed preparations for the watershed vote under the headline, "Election Fever Catches on in Saudi Arabia":

"The country's first nationwide elections, beginning next Thursday, are only for local councils, with voters electing half of the councils' members," said the AP. "But the ballot is seen as a concrete step in a reform process no one had expected."

"The municipal elections will be carried out in three phases, beginning with the Riyadh region, where about 1,800 candidates will contest 127 seats," the wire service said.

Initially, there was scant interest in the vote, at least until Jan. 29, when the candidates' campaigns began.

"I didn't take it seriously. I regret I didn't sign up," Khaled Muhammad, 26, told the AP. He was visiting an information tent to learn more about the process so he could participate in future elections.

Still despite the slow start, previously unimaginable scenes are now playing out on Riyadh's streets, the AP said.

"For the first time there are forums - daily meetings at candidates' headquarters - where people can discuss social issues away from the control of religious authorities.

"Candidate fliers are thrown into open car windows, and brochures are folded into newspapers. One woman even called a candidate praising his looks and offering to be a second wife."

"Who would have thought that one day there would be candidates' pictures in the streets?" Sulaiman al-Hattlan, a U.S.-educated columnist, wrote for Al-Watan daily. "Who would have thought that one day there would be slogans urging participation in decision making?"

"This is a sign that given an opportunity to open up and adopt new concepts, [Saudi] society will take it," he added."