Political Quotes

“On Monday, Afghanistan's first democratically elected Parliament in more than 30 years convened before the eyes of the world. It was an emotional moment and one of great pride for the Afghan people. As President Karzai told his audience of 351 new parliament members, with Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife Lynne listening in the front row, ``This dear Afghanistan has risen again from the ashes.'' Here in the United States, we are full of hope for the Afghan people and we share in their joy. They have suffered a long and difficult journey. Twenty years of civil war. Nearly another decade of total repression. But they have finally reached the shores of freedom, and the future spread out before them is one of hope, progress, and limitless possibility. We are proud to count Afghanistan as a free country, a fellow democracy, and a friend of the United States of America. This past year has been one of extraordinary events in the Middle East. We have seen amazing images of people celebrating their newfound liberty--cheering, dancing and singing in the streets that they, too, are now free. From the cedar revolution in Lebanon to the historic elections in Iraq, the winds of democratic change are blowing across Arab lands. A new report by the highly respected human rights group Freedom House finds genuine stirrings of democratic progress: local elections in Saudi Arabia; women's new voting rights in Kuwait; improved elections in Egypt and the Palestinian territories.…”