Here we go again

Here we go again


New York Times, November 11, 2005

U.S. Starts Semi-Independent Forum for Mideast DemocracyBy STEVEN R. WEISMAN
MANAMA, Bahrain, Friday, Nov. 11 - The Bush administration, facing complaints that it is trying to impose democracy in the Middle East, is forming a government-financed but semi-independent foundation to promote political activities with less of a taint from being financed solely by Washington, administration officials say.
The program, the Foundation for the Future, and a Fund of the Future to promote business activities are to be announced as many American officials say President Bush's democracy initiative has borne fruit in some places and met resentment in others.
"In many ways we're seeing that veil of fear is lifting," said Elizabeth Cheney, the State Department's official in charge of promoting democracy in the Middle East and the vice president's daughter. "We're seeing something very real happening across the region in terms of progress toward opening up societies, opening up political systems and economic systems."
But other officials, speaking anonymously to avoid being seen as undermining the effort to promote democracy, say the record has been disappointing, particularly in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, two of the United States' most important Middle East allies. What can often sound like preaching from American officials has not helped the cause, they say.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who arrived Friday in Bahrain for a meeting involving Europe, Japan and Muslim nations, part of the Broader Middle East and North Africa Initiative started by Mr. Bush in June 2004, said Thursday that the initial financing goals for the new programs would be $100 million for the business fund and $50 million for the democracy foundation, raised from American, European and Arab governments.
"The remarkable thing about this is that we're going to have Arab partners and Middle Eastern partners," she said. How much the financing for the new efforts would supplant money for other American aid programs was unclear.
American officials say the Bahrain meeting will signal a recalibration of Mr. Bush's approach to aiding democracy. This year, the Middle East Partnership Initiative is to spend $100 million to support election monitors, candidate training and political groups in the Middle East. But under the new programs, $85 million from the initiative is to go to the two new semi-independent efforts. Financing would be directed by people in the region, not Americans.

Funding?

OVER $100 million (BD37.8m) will be set aside by G8 countries and other partners for a foundation and a fund to support democratic, educational and economic reforms in the Broader Middle East and North Africa (BMENA), according to top US and Bahrain officials. The Foundation for the Future, which will provide grants to Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) trying to bring democracy to the region, will mainly be supported by the US, which is contributing $35m (BD13.2m) to the project.
A total of $2m (BD756,000) will come from Europe, $1m (BD378,000) from Jordan and $6m (BD2.3m) from other countries.
Meanwhile, the Fund for the Future, which will support entrepreneurship, will be underwritten with $50m (BD18.9m) from the US, $20m (BD7.6m) from Egypt, $20m (BD7.6m) from Morocco and $1m (BD378,000) from Denmark

Funding also pledged by Qatar and Greece

State department official BMENA page