The Foreign Service Journal, December 2004

ward strategy of freedom in the Middle East.” To be sure, that initiative has been received coolly in the region, where authoritarian rulers no doubt calcu- late that any loosening of their grip could mean curtains for their regimes. And it seems that whatever grass-roots good will Bush may have generated with the initiative has been more than offset by the hostility of Arabs and non-Arab Muslims to American policy in Iraq and in the Middle East in general. Powell disputes the notion of many Arabs that the initiative is yet another unwelcome example of an overbearing America pushing its agenda on others. He frequently makes clear that the United States has no intention of imposing democ- racy on Arab countries. The com- ment suggests that the original ideal- ism of the proposal has been replaced by a dose of realism. Still, Bush’s con- cept represents a marked change from the long U.S. history of unques- tioned American acceptance of the undemocratic status quo in the region. It’s not often that any administra- tion can claim a rights breakthrough as clear as the one that occurred a year ago in the former Soviet repub- lic of Georgia. While maintaining good relations with then-Georgian 50 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 4 Not surprisingly, critics saw the prisoner abuse scandal as an opportunity to score points at America’s expense. 2400 Virginia Ave., N.W Washington, D.C., 20037 Tel: (202) 293-2000 E-mail: leasingoffice@columbiaplaza.net Office Hours: Mon. - Fri. 8:00 AM-5:30 PM Sat 10:00 AM-4:00 PM 24 Hour Front Desk Garage Parking Avaliable Controlled Access Potomac River Views Minutes to Fine Dining Newly Renovated Kitchens Directly across the street from Main State, minutes to Kennedy Center and Georgetown Beautiful and Spacious: Efficiency$1,100 - $1,250 1 Bedroom 1,400 - 1,700 2 Bedroom 2,100 - 2,700 Utilities Included Complimentary Voice Mail Courtyard Style Plaza Polished Hardwood Floors Private Balconies Huge Walk-in Closets Capital Living With Comfort and Convenience 24 Hour Fitness Center columbia plaza apartments