TRYING TIMES

Trying Times will give credit to the current Administration for pushing for elections in Palestine, even when the results do not necessarily conform to our wishes. The disasterous past relationships between the West and democratization of Middle Eastern countries has hinged on our need to provoke outcomes conforming to our own interests. The Eisenhower Administation, through the actions of Kermit Roosevelt and the CIA, supported the despot Shah in Iran in the 1950's over a democratically elected prime minister. This action was taken to support western oil interests, at the behest of Winston Churhill and the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, known to us today as BP or "Beyond Petroleum". This action was taken specifically to keep Iran from nationalizing their oil supply, a move we thought to be against our interests. We now know that this event set a precedent for the future incestous relations of our oil companies and Middle Eastern despots and tyranny. The victory of Hamas, while seen through the "Pothole Theory" as possibly beneficial to stabilizing and unarming Hamas, is hard to spin as a victory for our own interests. Democracy is not only a means to an end but a worthwhile end in itself. Setting a precedent for the promotion of democratic values is the key in this case. We have spent much of the last few years destroying our reputation among Middle Eastern countries through war. It is good to see, at least in this instance, the Administation is serious about promoting long-term democratic values.