The slow pace of reform.
Warmly backing George W Bush’s new crusade against tyranny, David Brooks says, “The pace of progress will vary from nation to nation.” (*)
I’m sure it will. So long as countries like Saudi Arabia and Indonesia have strong trade ties with the US, their pace of reform can be slow—so slow no one notices any reform. Weaker nations better keep looking back over their shoulders.
Of course, Bush will have to bend the rules a little to bring “freedom” to the poor, stupid, helpless masses, but if innocent people are killed in the name of liberation while the Politburo partakes in caviar and vodka, hey, that’s progress.