As noted by a CNN reporter , I forget his name : something's in the air in the middle east. Protest demanding democratic reform appear to be gathering momentum. It started in Lebanon, with demonstrations leading to the pro-Syrian government resigning, Egypt and Saudi Arabia are nervously shuffling their feet and attempting to placate their people by holding sham elections (which in itsself is a massive step forward), and now protests in Syria are in full swing.

And you can thank George Bush.

I bet the liberal left is seething right now. I bet they'd see red if someone told them the Iraqi liberation directly affected the winds of change that appear to be gathering in the middle east. I'd bet they'd be chomping on their bits if someone like me said that Dubya will probably be remembered as a great US president as a result. Oh, they will continue snarling and frothing at the mouth, but already it's subdued. Iraq's successful election was met with stony silence from the left.

Perhaps, just perhaps, the M.E will finally be dragged kicking and screaming into the civilised world. No matter how hard the Left tries to stop it from happening.