The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), a subsidiary of the Economist Newspaper has released its Index of Political Freedom for the Middle East, putting Israel in first place in terms of political freedoms, with Lebanon taking second, the Palestinian Territories in third, and Iraq taking fifth place, respectively. These ratings have caused some consternation in politically correct circles, such as the BBC. Here are the rankings of Middle Eastern nations surveyed:

INDEX OF POLITICAL FREEDOM

Israel: 8.20
Lebanon: 6.55
Morocco: 5.20
Iraq: 5.05
Palestine: 5.05
Kuwait: 4.90
Tunisia: 4.60
Jordan: 4.45
Qatar: 4.45
Egypt: 4.30
Sudan: 4.30
Yemen: 4.30
Algeria: 4.15
Oman: 4.00
Bahrain: 3.85
Iran: 3.85
UAE: 3.70
Saudi Arabia: 2.80
Syria: 2.80
Libya: 2.05

The EIU states on its website:

The Index of Political Freedom was based on responses by the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Middle East and North Africa analysts to 15 indicators on political and civil liberties. These covered the following topics:

election of the head of government election of parliament fairness of electoral laws right to organise political parties power of elected representatives presence of an opposition transparency minority participation

level of corruption freedom of assembly independence of the judiciary press freedom religious freedom rule of law property rights

Each question was scored from one to five, where one represented the least liberty and five the most. All indicators were weighted equally. Scores were converted to a 10-point scale, where 1 equals the least political freedom and 10 the most.

While these seem like very rational criteria, the BBC seems reticent to accept the results — it editorializes in a news story about the Index:

Though there are few surprises at the bottom of the table, the top five may raise eyebrows.

It contains three of the most volatile parts of the region: Lebanon, the Palestinian Territories and Iraq. …

Lebanon is free in a very particular sense: it is no longer under military occupation.

Most Palestinians do not enjoy that freedom, and yet they have just had local elections and are preparing for parliamentary ones in January, our correspondent says.

As for Iraq, its high score is a bit surprising, given the level of violence there, our correspondent says.

Iraqis no long live under a dictatorship and now have plenty of publications and political parties to choose from. But their freedom of movement is constrained by the bombings and kidnappings, and that is a big limitation.

Just who is raising eyebrows? What is the implication here? The Lebanese themselves — minus Hezbollah — peacefully demanded an end to 30 years of brutal Syrian occupation. While not completely free of Syrian influence, the Lebanese have voted for candidates not hand-picked by the Assad family. How is this a “particular sense?” Gaza is no longer occupied, and Palestinians are headed for elections. The military occupation they suffered is their own doing, because of 100 years of pogroms and terrorism directed at Jews. Israel had no choice but to protect itself. Iraq has had two free elections, has ratified an new constitution with the blessings of the UN, its free press is flourishing, and its economy is booming. The patently undemocratic, murderous, Islamist thugs are the ones imposing “limitations” on Iraqis. But the thugs have not been able to stifle the country’s growing freedoms and courageous spirit — all in the face of fanatical atrocities. Is there a problem here? Who said freedom and personal responsibility would come easy?

The EIU isn’t bashful about crediting President Bush’s push for democratizing the Middle East:

While democracy is not about to break out all over the region, the magazine said, United States President George Bush’s determination to spread the notion as an antidote to Islamist terrorism has changed the mood across the region and will continue to do so.

“The germ of democracy will spread in a number of less violent Arab countries,” it said.

“Lebanon, in particular, will continue to shed Syrian influence and will re-emerge as the most sophisticated and liberal Arab state in the region.

“And the Americans will promote a trio of more or less benevolent monarchies — Morocco, Jordan and Bahrain — as exemplars of their democracy campaign.”

To the Economist, the glass is half full, while the politically correct have this report sticking in their throats, hoping to wish it out of existence, and see the glass half empty. I choose to see the glass half full. Wasn’t it Martin Luther King, Jr., quoting Moses, who cried, “Let my people go!”