DYSFUNCTION IS GOOD

Iraq, Israel Dominate Debate at Meeting (DONNA BRYSON, June 21, 2003, ASSOCIATED PRESS)

The U.S.-led war that toppled Saddam Hussein forced Iraq's neighbors to contemplate their weaknesses and lack of democracy, Arab leaders said Saturday in a debate that revealed fears about what Washington might have in store next for the region.

Iraq was among the main themes at the World Economic Forum, held for the first time in the Middle East, which joins influential CEOs and
entrepreneurs with politicians to discuss global issues.

More than 1,100 participants, including 11 heads of state or government and dozens of Cabinet ministers, attended the three-day meeting, which opened Saturday on the shores of the Dead Sea with the BBC-sponsored debate on Iraq.

In a speech, Jordan's King Abdullah II said much had changed since the last World Economic Forum meeting at its headquarters in the Swiss Alpine resort of Davos.

"Then, we talked about the looming war in Iraq. Now, we talk about speeding up humanitarian outreach ... reconstruction ... and credible Iraqi government that represents all its people," Abdullah said.

"Then, we talked about winning a commitment to the road map to peace for Israel and Palestine. Now, we talk about making that commitment a reality; a comprehensive peace; two states, living side by side, in peace and stability.

If you've never been to a 12-Step program, but have heard the term "dysfunctional" family, what they are generally referring to is the way that everyone else modifies their own behavior in order to accomodate the person who has a problem. The stability of the family, the need for some normality, makes people accept the behavior they'd otherwise condemn. The disease begins to dictate the dynamics of the group as people "enable" the addict--that is, aid the addiction.

There's quite a bit of talk these days about how the U.S. is storming around the globe oafishly, scaring the pants off of people. In effect, we've become the person with the problem. But the problem in this case, rather than alcoholism or drug abuse or an eating disorder, is our faith in democracy. Now other folks in the family of nations are trying to accommodate themselves to the "disease". The world is enabling our desire for democratic values. Nations are making themselves dysfunctional by embracing unheard of levels of democracy--and/or democratic rhetoric, which is ultimately the same thing--just to keep the peace. Let's hope they don't figure out they need to start going to Democrats Anonymous meetings to break the vicious cycle of liberty. Posted by Orrin Judd at June 21, 2003 7:28 PM