Much has been said of President George W. Bush’s American-led “crusade” to bring democracy to the Muslim world. Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were predicated, at least in part, on spreading freedom; similarly, the Middle East Partnership Initiative is supposed to make democracy the centerpiece of American assistance in the region.
外部力量在推进中东和平进程中也扮演了重要角色。最多说到的就是美国总统乔治·布什带领下、以美国为首的、旨在将民主带到穆斯林世界的“十字军”。阿富汗战争和伊拉克战争的目的至少有一部分是为了传播自由。同样，中东伙伴关系行动计划的实施也是为了使民主政治成为美对中东援助的核心内容。