Salama Na'mat, the Washington, D.C., bureau chief of the London-based Arabic-language daily Al-Hayat, published an article in his paper criticizing Arab regimes and the Arab media for encouraging the Iraqi insurgents. "Isn't their goal to thwart [the emergence of] the newborn democracy in Iraq so that it won't spread in the region?" he wrote.

"The forces of darkness and their natural allies in the regimes [neighboring Iraq] are insisting on turning the dream of democracy into a living hell." Na'mat also predicted that if the Islamists succeed in Iraq, their triumph "will encourage similar successes in other places in which [democracy] is being built," particularly Lebanon.

We doubt such statements will make Na'mat many friends, especially among those who prefer to express their disagreement with violence. And yet we notice Na'mat has made similarly forceful statements before, for example in criticizing Arab silence about Oil-for-Food. Judging by his statements he is a true Arab reformer, with all the courage that entails.