Tag Archives: Democracy

21May/08

Shortwave Democracy

 

By Nir Boms and Erick Stakelbeck

Published June 28, 2004


Although it often seems like a solitary outpost of democratic sanity, the United States is not alone in waging the war of ideas. Since September 11, more than a dozen privately ownedpro-democracy radio stations have emerged in freedom-starved countries like North Korea, Syria, Iran and Cuba. 

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14May/08

Taking Back Islam

Moderate Muslims say their faith is compatible with freedom.

June 03, 2004, 8:47 a.m.

By Erick Stakelbeck & Nir Boms

There’s an elephant in the room whenever the current U.S. operation in Iraq is discussed: Is Islam truly compatible with democracy? Or do the U.S.’s troubles in stabilizing Iraq signal that Muslims simply have no desire to live in a free, democratic society?

Right now the answers to these questions are unclear. For every modern Islamic “success story” like Turkey or Malaysia, there are Islamist nightmares like Saudi Arabia and Iran.

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14May/08

The Other Iran Crisis

By NIR BOMS
July 19, 2007; Page A14

While the world focuses on Iran’s centrifuges, the regime in Tehran appears to be in the midst of one of its most ferocious crackdowns on dissent in years. The government has focused on labor leaders, universities, the press, women’s rights advocates, a former nuclear negotiator, Iranian-Americans and even civil servants who demanded higher salaries. Iran’s cruel treatment of its own citizens is yet another sign that it can’t be trusted to respect the welfare of other nations. Continue reading

13May/08

Iran: Long Live the Reformers

 

2/2/2004                                                                                                                                                                                          

By Nir Boms and Reza Bulorchi

Defying conventional wisdom, fresh voices of freedom appear to be coming from the Middle East as of late. Bashar Assad of Syria delivers his plans for democratization directly to the New York Times. Muammar Gaddafi of Libya delivers his to Newsweek as he claims to be an ally in the “war against terrorism” and invites the world to review his nuclear arsenal. Mohammad Khatami of Iran, the “moderate” president, threatens to resign due to an election crisis resulting from the Guardians Council’s decision to disqualify more than 3,000 candidates from the ballot of his country’s upcoming February 20 elections. Continue reading