Bush's anti-tyranny drive to be tested quickly [View All]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050121/wl_afp/usbushdiplomacy_050121194748

WASHINGTON (AFP) - President George W. Bush (news - web sites)'s sweeping pledge to battle tyranny worldwide has raised a host of questions whether he will go after US friends as well as foes, and will soon be tested in the Iraqi elections.


"There are reasons to be impressed by Bush's new doctrine. There are also reasons to be very afraid," The Los Angeles Times said a day after the Republican launched his second term with a global campaign to expand democracy.


The address left world leaders and analysts pondering the realpolitik implications of Bush's vow to promote democratic movements across the globe as a means to isolate and eradicate terrorism.


Allan Lichtman, a professor at the American University here, likened Bush to presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson in their quest to boost the United States's world influence in the early 20th century.


"It marked a remarkable transformation from the candidate who in 2000 talked about having a humble foreign policy and not telling the world what to think, to the newly inaugurated president ... declaring it is our mission to install democracy worldwide."