The Christian Science Monitor notes that democracy is thriving sans U.S. aid or benefit. Obviously these are areas in which the Bush administration haven’t stuck their noses in too deeply.

Consider these developments:

•Fierce fighting that threatened to engulf Lebanon in a new civil war last month was quelled when factions reached a political accord with the help of Qatar - though with the US nowhere in sight.

•Israel and Syria have begun talks aimed at reaching a peace treaty - with Turkey as the go-between.

•Brazil, looking for partners with which to expand its diplomatic reach, suddenly finds China eclipsing the US - particularly in food trade.

Perhaps, come January, democracy will once again thrive here in the good ol’ US of A..