Democracy is like a streetcar. When you come to your stop, you get off.

We know of the nature of the regime in Syria. We constantly try to inspire them toward more democracy, but playing with Syria would be dangerous and could prove to be a worse situation than Iraq.

But foremost, I do not subscribe to the view that Islamic culture and democracy cannot be reconciled.

In other words, the bar should be maintained at the level of a pluralistic and participatory democracy.

The US and the European Union needs to help in the translation of the demand for democracy into a political will.

What should be targeted is a concept of organic, and not just mechanic, democracy that preserves the rule of law, separation of powers, and that is participatory and pluralistic.