Arabs, freedom, democracy

[GRUNHERZ]

Originally posted by JB88
isreal is the bastion of democracy.  just ask the palestinians.

Arab israeli citizens in Israel can vote in the regular israeli elections - there are arabs in the knesset.  The palestenians in the west bank and gaza can vote in the palestenian government elections.

[Flyboy]

Originally posted by thrila
Jordan's a constitutional monarchy, they've had elections since the late 80's.

i dont know thrila, i never heard of a jordan prime minister

[NUKE]

Originally posted by Flyboy
just to clearify things, i think jordan and egypt are the most modern and developed countries in the arab world, and i have alot of respect of respect both to mubarak and abdallaa, both very brave leaders IMHO

But your country is leaps and bounds ahead of them. Israel is a great nation, arab nations do not offer their citizens anything to speak of.

[NUKE]

Originally posted by thrila
Jordan's a constitutional monarchy, they've had elections since the late 80's.

lol

[Flyboy]

hey thrila a quick google search brought up the following:

jordan was found by the british after WW1, Abdala the first was declared ruler of jordan and his brother fiesel (sp?) was ruler of iraq.
after the death of abdala by an assasinated by palastinians in jerusalem, his son talal (sp?) was declared king, after his health deteriorated his son hussein was crowned, and then abdala the 2nd, which is the current ruler

[Momus--]

Wait a second, I distinctly remember a little war in 1991 aimed at "freeing" Kuwait. Or did I miss something?

[JB88]

Democracy In Jordan?

By Toujan Faisal and Ian Urbina

Znet
July 07, 2003

(AMMAN, Jordan) When Washington cites examples of the potential for reform and democracy in the Arab world, Jordan is one of the first countries mentioned. For the first time since 1997, Jordanians went to the polls last month to vote for parliament, and by most accounts the elections went smoothly. Voter turnout topped 52% and stability was maintained, with a clear majority of the seats going to pro-government candidates. Islamists, though they later questioned the outcome, added credibility to the process by taking part in the elections rather than boycotting them. In the end they captured only 17 out of 110 seats, far fewer than expected. Jordanian women took a step forward, with six parliamentary spots specially set aside for females.



free elections.    operative term.

[Flyboy]

well nuke, i will agree with you that israel is light years hahead of the arab states, there is still alot of chitty things here, far from ideal, or a gold standard.

[JB88]

Originally posted by Momus--
Wait a second, I distinctly remember a little war in 1991 aimed at "freeing" Kuwait. Or did I miss something?

sadly yes.

note where it says that only 10% of the population even have the right to vote.

we did a bang up job on that one.




Government        Kuwait     
Top of Page
Country name:
   Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: State of Kuwait
conventional short form: Kuwait
local long form: Dawlat al Kuwayt
local short form: Al Kuwayt
Government type:
   Definition Field Listing
nominal constitutional monarchy
Capital:
   Definition Field Listing
Kuwait
Administrative divisions:
   Definition Field Listing
5 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al Farwaniyah, Al 'Asimah, Al Jahra', Hawalli
Independence:
   Definition Field Listing
19 June 1961 (from UK)
National holiday:
   Definition Field Listing
National Day, 25 February (1950)
Constitution:
   Definition Field Listing
approved and promulgated 11 November 1962
Legal system:
   Definition Field Listing
civil law system with Islamic law significant in personal matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
   Definition Field Listing
adult males who have been naturalized for 30 years or more or have resided in Kuwait since before 1920 and their male descendants at age 21
note: only 10% of all citizens are eligible to vote; in 1996, naturalized citizens who do not meet the pre-1920 qualification but have been naturalized for 30 years were eligible to vote for the first time
Executive branch:
   Definition Field Listing
chief of state: Amir JABIR al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah (since 31 December 1977)
head of government: Prime Minister SABAH al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah (since 13 July 2003); First Deputy Prime Minister NAWWAF al-Ahmad Al Sabah (since 2003); Deputy Prime Ministers JABIR MUBARAK al-Hamad Al Sabah (since 2001) and Muhammad Dayfallah al-SHARAR (since 2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister and approved by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch:
   Definition Field Listing
unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Umma (50 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 6 July 2003 (next to be held NA 2007)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - Islamists 21, government supporters 14, liberals 3, and independents 12; note - all cabinet ministers are also ex officio members of the National Assembly
Judicial branch:
   Definition Field Listing
High Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:
   Definition Field Listing
none; formation of political parties is illegal
Political pressure groups and leaders:
   Definition Field Listing
several political groups act as de facto parties: Bedouins, merchants, Sunni and Shi'a activists, and secular leftists and nationalists
 World War I



political parties are illegal?  but....but...

oh never mind.

[JB88]

but our good friends the saudi's must be democratic right?  i mean, we go together like peas and carrots.

nope.

no vote.

Government        Saudi Arabia     
Top of Page
Country name:
   Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
conventional short form: Saudi Arabia
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
local short form: Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
Government type:
   Definition Field Listing
monarchy
Capital:
   Definition Field Listing
Riyadh
Administrative divisions:
   Definition Field Listing
13 provinces (mintaqat, singular - mintaqah); Al Bahah, Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah, Al Jawf, Al Madinah, Al Qasim, Ar Riyad, Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern Province), 'Asir, Ha'il, Jizan, Makkah, Najran, Tabuk
Independence:
   Definition Field Listing
23 September 1932 (Unification of the Kingdom)
National holiday:
   Definition Field Listing
Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)
Constitution:
   Definition Field Listing
governed according to Shari'a (Islamic law); the Basic Law that articulates the government's rights and responsibilities was introduced in 1993
Legal system:
   Definition Field Listing
based on Islamic law, several secular codes have been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
   Definition Field Listing
none
note: in October 2003, Council of Ministers announced its intent to introduce elections for half of the members of local and provincial assemblies and a third of the members of the national Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura, incrementally over a period of four to five years
Executive branch:
   Definition Field Listing
chief of state: King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 13 June 1982, but largely incapacitated since late 1995); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud since 13 June 1982, also Saudi Arabian National Guard Commander since 1963 and de facto ruler since early 1996; note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 13 June 1982, but largely incapacitated since late 1995); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud since 13 June 1982, also Saudi Arabian National Guard Commander since 1963 and de facto ruler since early 1996; note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers is appointed by the monarch and includes many royal family members
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary
Legislative branch:
   Definition Field Listing
Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (120 members and a chairman appointed by the monarch for four-year terms)
Judicial branch:
   Definition Field Listing
Supreme Council of Justice
Political parties and leaders:
   Definition Field Listing
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
   Definition Field Listing
none
International organization participation:
   Definition Field Listing
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, BIS, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
   Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador BANDAR bin Sultan bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud
chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 342-3800
consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
   Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador James Curtis OBERWETTER
embassy: Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh
mailing address: American Embassy Riyadh, Unit 61307, APO AE 09803-1307; International Mail: P. O. Box 94309, Riyadh 11693
telephone: [966] (1) 488-3800
FAX: [966] (1) 488-3989
consulate(s) general: Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah)
Flag description:
   Definition Field Listing
green, a traditional color in Islamic flags, with the Shahada or Muslim creed in large white Arabic script (translated as "There is no god but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God") above a white horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side); design dates to the early twentieth century and is closely associated with the Al Saud family which established the kingdom in 1932

[hawker238]

STOP POSTING EVERY DAMN FACT!  JUST THE RELEVANT ONES!

[JB88]

ok.

"Guns don't kill people, dangerous minorities do!"

hows that?

[hawker238]

Sounds spot on to me.

Wait, its not relevant.  Good try though.

[Flyboy]

lebanon is ruled by a puppet goverment that has no power of its own, and is completely depended on syria.
they recently changed their own constitution so their presedent could be "re elected" cause the president of syria likes him.


i think JB88 is just bored. or tired, or both..err wait thats me

anyway, keep posting long uninteresting "facts" i know all those copy and pastes are hard, but what are you doing is just so importent you got to keep it up..

[oboe]

NUKE,

Iran had a democratically elected leader before the Shah was inserted to power by the CIA.   But he ran afoul of Western nations good graces by nationalizing Iranian oil.   Fifty-one years ago, the CIA overthrew Mohammad Mossadegh, the popular, democratically elected prime minister of Iran, and reinstalled the country's exiled monarch, Mohammad Reza Shah.

Google any of the terms in the paragraph above for more information.    I don't blame you for not knowing - I didn't learn this in high school, but from a poster here a while ago.

Here's a link to a review of a book which would answer a lot of questions I bet:

All The Shah's Men