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I Thought Democracy was the Answer: "Sometimes I've seen the U.S. media take the simplistic view that 'democracy' is the answer to all of a country's problems. I often chuckle to myself when I notice that in many cases the term 'democracy' when used by the American press is really a euphemism for an American friendly government and way of life.  This is one of the reasons why I am unsurprised by the inherent contradiction in stories like Bush Says U.S. Won't Deal With Hamas which is excerpted below Stunned by Hamas' decisive election victory, President Bush said Thursday the United States will not deal with the militant Palestinian group as long as it seeks Israel's destruction. 'If your platform is the destruction of Israel it means you're not a partner in peace,' the president said. 'And we're interested in peace.' He urged Hamas to reverse course. Hamas has taken responsibility for dozens of suicide attacks on Israel over the past five years but has largely observed a cease-fire since the election of Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas as Palestinian president last year. Bush left open the possibility of cutting off U.S. aid to the Palestinians. He called on Abbas, a U.S. ally, to remain in office despite Fatah's defeat by Hamas in parliamentary elections. Abbas, elected separately a year ago, said he was committed to negotiations with I"