Cold War culture blocked democracy

Baltimore Sun Letter to the Editor September 7, 2003.

Speaking of Arab culture in his column “A sign of hope for democracy in Arab world: 52-48” (Opinion Commentary, Sept. 4), Thomas L. Friedman notes, “I believe culture does matter, although I have no idea how much it explains the absence of Arab democracies.”

I think culture has everything to do with the absence of Arab democracies: The American Cold War culture that led to the assassination and overthrow of democratically elected leaders around the planet also retarded the development of democracy in the Middle East, as last month’s 50th anniversary of the CIA-orchestrated coup against Mohammed Mossadegh in Iran reminded us.

Iraq may be an opportunity to see if the U.S. government is finally ready to support democracy.

Dave Goldsmith
Woodstock
The writer is Baltimore County Green Party coordinator.