 Democracy is not a one-size-fits-all proposition, Iran's former president said Wednesday, criticizing US President George W. Bush's attempt to impose Western-style government on the Middle East.
| Freedom is, democracy's not. |
After facing more than 100 protesters as he arrived in central London to speak at Chatham House, an independent think tank, Mohammad Khatami took questions from a specially selected group. "One of the greatest jokes Mr. Bush makes is when he says he wants to export democracy. Democracy is not something to get exported or be given," Khatami said. "The seed was cultivated in the West, but the seed shall be cultivated in the East, in Islam, in a different way because the conditions are different."
| Curiously, we were able to impose both democracy and individual freedom on both the Japanese and the Germans. Of course, we had to kill quite a few of them to do it. Perhaps that's the difference between them and the Muddle East: we're trying to kill as few of them as possible. |
"Historically, human affairs depend on social conditions and experiences. The experience of one country, one nation, cannot be extended to another geographic area with a different culture and conditions," Khatami said, speaking through an interpreter.
| "Except for Japan, of course. And Korea. And Taiwan. And Europe. But that's it." |
| "And Nicaragua. And El Salvador. And Chile. And Panama. And Grenada. But that's really it." |
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