Japan was a blend of monarchy and military dictatorship prior to WWII. No democracy whatsoever in their long history. They've done well with it for 50 years now. Democary has taken root in Eastern Europe, Russia (also with no democratic history), India (the world's biggest democracy), Latin America and Africa. Taiwan is proof Chinese civilization can thrive with democratic institutions. Ultimately I think China will cast off their communist tyrants and become a truly great democratic nation (that will definately happen from within).

This indicates democracy and freedom are not cultural but universal human values. The people in the Arab world deserve the same freedoms we have. But for decades we've supported authoritarianism... The result is a staggering 60 million illiterate arabs and Islamic terrorist groups tapping into that vast pool of discontented and unempowered masses. But, as Bob Dylan once said: "The times, they are, a changing."

There is nothing about Arab culture that would make democracy impossible. I think it is borderline insulting to say there is. I look forward to the day perhaps in my lifetime when every nation on earth is a free democratic society.