The Washington Post publishes a long article today by Scott Wilson and Daniel Williams about the rise of democracy in the Middle East for the first time in history, and the transformative power it has had in the region. But instead of the liberation of 50 million people from two of the worst tyrannies in the world as an inspiration, the Post humbly submits that journalists have freed the region, as well as George Soros:

[A]cross the region, political reformers are benefiting from the unifying forces of technology and mass media. Digital channels outside the control of states are carrying anything from a Kuwaiti woman's call for voting rights in her country to a Lebanese Christian's demands to drive Syrian troops out from his. The foot soldiers are Islamic political activists in some cases, Bob Dylan disciples, communists or Arab secular nationalists in others. Many are united only in their common desire for fair elections, free speech and political rights.

In his second inaugural address, President Bush said that "it is the policy of the United States to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture." But many democracy advocates in the region are skeptical of U.S. intentions here, and truly free elections in such countries as Egypt and Saudi Arabia could usher in parties sharply at odds with the United States. At the same time, Bush's message has offered a measure of comfort to street activists, who believe that crackdowns will be harder to carry out now that the United States is watching.

A powerful influence on the region has been televised imagery of Georgia's street uprising, called the Rose Revolution, which resulted in the ousting of a president after a flawed election. Then came Ukraine's potent Orange Revolution, which also followed elections seen as rigged. These mass movements have helped inspire political strategies playing out today on the streets in Beirut and Bahrain.

The Iraq experience, by contrast, has had a mixed effect. Some democracy activists in the region have been inspired by the recent elections but remain concerned by the continuing violence there. In Egypt, outrage over the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and American policy toward the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians spurred some reformers to take to the streets to protest against President Hosni Mubarak, whom they view as a U.S. ally.

The Arab movements are, in many cases, increasingly tethered by the work of U.S.-funded democracy programs, international anti-corruption groups and Arab satellite television. Seminars funded by groups such as Transparency International and the philanthropist George Soros have brought together novice parliamentarians, activist journalists and human rights advocates from Morocco to the Persian Gulf region.

What do you suppose the journalists started broadcasting and writing about just before all of these demonstrations started happening? Afghanistan's elections, and the Purple Fingers of Iraq. Neither of those developments were initiated or even supported by George Soros or the Exempt Media, who spent tons of ink, paper, and cash telling us how we would lose both wars, how the Brits had been humiliated in both places -- in the 1870s and 1920s, respectively -- and the folly of bringing democracy at gunpoint. Now they want credit for inspiring people to become democratic activists?

Some satires are best left in their native state.

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Tracked on April 17, 2005 10:37 AM