Egypt dissident says war sends message Tells group at U. of C. doors are opening for democracy movement

The war in Iraq has put advocates for democracy in the Middle Eastlike Saad Eddin Ibrahim in a tough position.

On the one hand, the Egyptian scholar does not believe democracycan be imposed by a foreign power, and especially not by force.

But as a critic of totalitarian Arab regimes who was just releasedfrom an Egyptian prison last month, he acknowledges that the U.S.action could help shake those regimes' hold on power in the region,opening a window for democratic groups.

The United States "has no business imposing democracy by militarymeans," Ibrahim said Tuesday at an address at the University ofChicago. But the war "put all dictators on notice that if they do …