A question

Reader comment on item: Can Hezbollah and Hamas Be Democratic?

Submitted by David Jones (United States), Mar 22, 2005 at 11:43

Mr. Pipes, I'd like to preface that I genarally agree with your perspective on our world. Since 9/11 I have been following activities and studying histories in order to be informed about what needs to be done to defend the USA.

My question is this: regarding your latest bulletin concerning the banning of totalitarian salafist parties in new middle eastern democracies, how do we explain that pro-western totalitarian governments have been and are ok?

David Jones

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Daniel Pipes replies:

"Pro-western totalitarian governments"? It's not a long list. And if you do come up with some examples, I would reply that barring exceptional circumstances, Western states should not make common cause with totalitarians.

DP