The Bush Administration has made the promotion of liberal democracy and the empowerment of reformists and democrats a cornerstone of its Middle East policy. But if there has been anything consistent about the implementation of this "Forward Strategy of Freedom," it has been its inconsistency. The idealistic goal of democracy promotion has often been stymied by other strategic interests, such as the desire to maintain good relations with friendly autocratic regimes in the region that provide the United States with valuable cooperation in the war on terror, and, to various degrees, help mediate the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

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The Bush Administration has made the promotion of liberal democracy and the empowerment of reformists and democrats a cornerstone of its Middle East policy. But if there has been anything consistent about the implementation of this "Forward Strategy of Freedom," it has been its inconsistency. The idealistic goal of democracy promotion has often been stymied by other strategic interests, such as the desire to maintain good relations with friendly autocratic regimes in the region that provide the United States with valuable cooperation in the war on terror, and, to various degrees, help mediate the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

To view the full-text PDF, please click the link below.