Last weekend, millions worldwide rallied in opposition to US war against Iraq. In response, George W. Bush compared recognizing the breadth of demonstrated opposition to his polices as governing “based upon a focus group”. He continues, quoted in Salon.com, “Democracy is a beautiful thing, and that people are allowed to express their opinion… Some in the world don’t view Saddam Hussein as a risk to peace… I respectfully disagree.”
He showed his respect for the opposition, and for democratic free expression, by filing a brief with a panel of federal judges in support of the City of New York’s decision to withhold legal permission for the New York instance of the international rally.
This, despite the fact that the NYPD accurately predicted that there would be no violence at the event. Civil libertarians are quick to point out that the City of New York appears to have no such worries about going ahead with the St. Patrick’s Day celebration.
Dissident Iraqi Kurds are also questioning Bush’s committment to democracy. They are beginning to doubt that hawkish rhetoric of Iraqi liberation is genuine.
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