You say you want a revolution?

On March 20, 2003 the US invasion of Iraq began. Five days later George Bush stated, "Yes, if you heard the bombs falling, you'll know that democracy is on the march in the Middle East." This was dubya-ed the Purple Revolution. Later that same year in November, we had the Rose Revolution in Georgia with some US support. A year later, in November of 2004 to January of 2005, democratic forces with the support of the US took to the streets of Ukraine and brought about the Orange Revolution. A month later, again with US support, we had the Cedar Revolution in Lebanon, which brought to power the US-backed government of Siniora and kicked out the Syrians (and also limited Hezbollah, and thus fully representative Muslim participation). At the end of 2005, the new Iraqi government was voted in and the world awaited the impending Palestinian election a month later. Throughout this period we heard a lot about how democracy was on the march and the real solution.

But then in January of 2006 something funny happened on the way to the bazaar. The Hamas government was actually elected by a majority of Palestinians and the US and Israel refused to recognize it. Evidently democracy is OK, so long as the party you support wins. One month later on February 22, the gilded dome of one of Iraq's holiest Shiite mosques was attacked and what wheels were left on the Iraqi democratic bus fell off. Meanwhile, Russia hit back at Ukraine and Georgia by manipulating energy prices and Putin has begun assassinating his enemies. And then in July Israel bombed, invaded, and withdrew from Lebanon to rid it of what remained of Hezbollah's and Iranian/Syrian influence. Since then, more anti-Syrian politicians and reporters have been assassinated and Lebanon has fractured. The result of this fracturing has reached a critical juncture this week with Hezbollah supporters pouring into the streets to take down the Siniora government and to garner a more representative number of seats in any newly formed "unity government." Sort of funny that we no longer hear politicians and pundits touting how democracy is on the march in the Middle East. Or was the only thing that was really ever on the march there the American military?