From WNYC in New York, this is NPR's On the Media. I'm Brooke Gladstone.

And I'm Bob Garfield. When the president used his inaugural address to vow and end to tyranny worldwide,

the global reaction ranged from sympathy to amusement to fear. But with the surprisingly successful

elections in Iraq, media around the world disseminated and absorbed the images of courageous, ink-stained Iraqi voters and began to reconsider George W. Bush's ambitions.

Joining us once again is Martin Walker, editor-in-chief of United Press International, with a review of the reviews from last week's election and Wednesday's State of the Union.

Martin, welcome as always.

Hello there.

If we're to believe the president in a state of the union address, democracy in Iraq and the rest of

the Middle East is all but a fait accompli.

Reading the European and Arab press, do you think there's a consensus on that issue? Not altogether. What's very striking is that the European and Arab press, do you think there's a consensus on that issue?

Not altogether. What's very striking is that the Europeans seem to be moving in George Bush's direction.

Le Monde, which is the great French newspaper, which has been exceedingly critical of the Bush foreign policy, said,

should we celebrate these elections? Yes, absolutely, without any

reservation. We mustn't forget Iraq had never known free elections before, not even under

their monarchy. Although these polls took place in the worst possible conditions, nonetheless,

the people of Iraq tried to vote. In Belgium's de standart, it looked like the mission impossible, and yet the first

phase has turned out all right for Mr. Bush. Iraqis chose to vote because freedom is the wish of all

people and not just a Western value. The success of a system of freedom in this Arab country could

become a beacon for the rest of the region. All across Europe, we're getting this.

From Germany's Berlin-At-Saitung, the courage of the Iraqis to vote and the surprisingly

high turnout demonstrates, above all, a rejection for the terrorists, but it also demonstrates

that perhaps President Bush has been right.

...