Well, its baby steps for the Dems, but Wednesday's Washington Times has a round-up of reactions of the "Whiff of Freedom" in the Middle East:
Some of the harshest Democratic critics of President Bush's Iraq policy have grudgingly admitted that it has helped spark a growing desire for democracy in the Middle East.
Democrats aren't taking to the Senate floor to praise Mr. Bush's role in the spectacle of Lebanese protesters demanding independence from Syrian control, or the elections in Iraq, or the news that Saudi Arabia and Egypt have committed to freer elections.
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"The war gave the Lebanese the spine they needed," Sen. Lautenberg said yesterday. "It told them, 'We can get rid of these vultures.'"
Sen Edward M. Kennedy, Massachusetts Democrat, said on ABC's "This Week" on Sunday that Mr. Bush deserves some credit for the positive developments in the still volatile region.
"What's taken place in a number of those countries is enormously constructive," Mr. Kennedy said. "It's a reflection the president has been involved."
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, said he didn't hear Mr. Bush's speech yesterday on spreading freedom in the Middle East, but "if there were ever a place in the world where we need democracy, it's in the Middle East."
"Any breakthrough we get there, whether it's in Lebanon or Egypt, is a step in the right direction and I support the president in that regard," Mr. Reid said.
But then you still have Senator "I don't want to give President Bush a single ounce of credit" Kerry:
But Massachusetts Democratic Sen. John Kerry, whose criticism of Mr. Bush's Iraq policy did not translate into a presidential victory in November, said Mr. Bush deserves no credit for recent developments in the Middle East.
"An assassination made this happen," Mr. Kerry said, referring to the car bomb that killed former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri last month.
"This was not the reason we went to war, but it's a very good outcome," Mr. Kerry said.
Also, Wednesday's Times reports that bomb maker's skills in Iraq seen as eroding.
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