Osama Losing His Constituency

In the wake of news that Iraqi's are standing up for themselves and protesting the use of terrorism in their counrty, comes another story that bodes well for the war on terror. This one is from Captain Ed, who cites poll data that Osama Bin Laden's support in the Middle East is dwindling fast.

Osama bin Laden's standing has dropped significantly in some key Muslim countries, while support for suicide bombings and other acts of violence has "declined dramatically," according to a new survey released today.

In a striking finding, predominantly Muslim populations in a sampling of six North African, Middle East and Asian countries are also as alarmed as Western nations about Islamic extremism, which is now seen as a threat in their own nations too, the poll found...

Compared with previous surveys, the new poll also found growing majorities or pluralities of Muslims surveyed now say democracy can work in their countries and is not just a political system for the West. Support for democracy was in the 80 percent range in Indonesia, Jordan, Lebanon and Morocco and the highest score at 43 percent in Pakistan and 48 percent in Turkey, where significant numbers were unsure.

"They are not just paying lip service. They are saying they specifically want a fair judiciary, freedom of expression and more than one party to participate in elections. It wasn't just a vague concept," said Andrew Kohut, president of the Pew Research Center and director of the project. "U.S. and Western ideas about democracy have been globalized and are in the Muslim world."

Captain Ed adds:

This demonstrates that Bush's policies of attacking terrorists where they have hidden themselves and demanding the liberalization of the Arabic world has had a huge, positive impact.

Words rather escape me on this one. While the MSM continues to report only isolated incidents of bad news in Iraq, there appears to be a quiet revolution under way all over the realm. And, make no mistake, democracy is the key to winning the war.

A free people are not driven to act out using terrorism as they generally feel a much greater satisfaction in their own lives, i.e., a sense of control over their destiny and a voice for change in their own country. Look at all the left wing loonies in this country. Were we in some despotic nation they might be driven to express their frustration as a non-factor in dangerous and violent ways.

But not even the most disenchanted among us is going to give up lattes and ginko bilobo for a sinlge act of suicidal insanity. At least...not yet.

Also posting: Weapons of Mass Destruction, Obsidian Wings, Angry in the Great White North