Speechifying

Who said it?

Successful societies limit the power of the state and the power of the military -- so that governments respond to the will of the people, and not the will of an elite. Successful societies protect freedom with the consistent and impartial rule of law, instead of selecting applying -- selectively applying the law to punish political opponents. Successful societies allow room for healthy civic institutions -- for political parties and labor unions and independent newspapers and broadcast media. Successful societies guarantee religious liberty -- the right to serve and honor God without fear of persecution. Successful societies privatize their economies, and secure the rights of property. They prohibit and punish official corruption, and invest in the health and education of their people. They recognize the rights of women. And instead of directing hatred and resentment against others, successful societies appeal to the hopes of their own people.

That's Prez Bush, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the National Endowment for Democracy on Thursday. It's a major statement of principles and well worth reading in in full. The real question, of course, is how well it maps onto reality, both in terms of the Middle East and U.S. policy.

Reaction to it is here.