While I am certainly not thrilled with President Bush’s missteps, I cannot argue with success. In another sign that Dubya’s push for Middle East democracy is working,

The president of the United Arab Emirates has announced plans for the country’s first elections.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nuhayyan said half of the consultative Federal National Council would be elected, but did not give a date for the vote. …

The UAE is one of the most liberal countries in the Gulf, with other cultures and beliefs generally tolerated.

However, it is the only state in the region not to have elected bodies.

Add the UAE to the growing list: millions of Afghans have voted twice, millions of Iraqis have voted twice, Lebanon is free of Syrian occupation (and has held elections), Kuwait has granted women the right to vote, and Saudi Arabia has held municipal elections — and the Saudis allowed women to vote and stand as candidates in an election held last week.