Dear Editor,
Face the Nation recently asked whether Syria might become the first real Arab Muslim democracy in the Middle East today (12-8-24).
Probably not. Not even “democratic” Israel today is anywhere near an authentic democracy, nor is the United States, though our people regularly claim to have the same republican form of government the Founders originally set up.
Military and political leaders of the Syrian rebels will hang their hats on a form of government that will allow ambitious individuals to corner extraordinary power and wealth for themselves and to minimize those benefits for the people.
There will be no Mahatma Gandhi who will teach real self-determination to a classroom of all the people. There will be no George Washington who will voluntarily give up power after a relatively short term of office. But maybe there will be less chemical warfare directed against next-door neighbors.
