Islam & Democracy: Lessons for US Policy in the Middle East

This talking-head documentary is presented by the Council for the National Interest Foundation, a Washington-based organization that sent a delegation in 2006 to the Middle East to interview representatives of Islamic political parties shunned by the U.S. government, either because they are illegal (like Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood) or identified as terrorist (like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Palestinian territory), as well as such government leaders as President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, Prime Minister Fuad Siniora of Lebanon, and officials of the Arab League. Also appearing are Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah (whose influence has skyrocketed since the recent Israeli invasion of Lebanon), as well as officials of the new regime in the Palestinian Authority. The thrust of their remarks here is that for decades American policy has erred both in propping up authoritarian Arab regimes in the region rather than espousing truly democratic reform, and in giving unqualified support to Israel—leading to growing anti-U.S. sentiment in the area and calls for changes in American policy. While Islam & Democracy essentially presents a one-sided argument—and the delegation members never press the interviewees to any real degree—it's a side that's not been heard much in the U.S., making this inexpensive DVD recommended, overall. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)