Arab world dreads spread of Iraq turmoil

My travels to Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq in recent weeks to look at the prospects for democratic change in the Middle East led me to one clear conclusion: The chance for more representative Arab governments rests on what happens in Iraq.

President George W. Bush contends that Iraq will inspire democratic change in the region. But, far from being an inspiration, Iraq has turned into a bogeyman. It is the nightmare example cited by authoritarian Arab regimes as proof of the looming chaos if they open their systems too fast.