Bookworm notes some interesting words from a surprising source:

Western governments have "the moral imperative to intervene - sometimes militarily - to help spread democracy throughout the world."

The same speaker says that "fostering democracy in the Middle East 'is the best long-term defence against global terrorism and conflict.'"

He feels that keeping democracy alive is hard work and must be actively fostered:  "After the end of the cold war it was tempting to believe in the 'end of history' - the inevitable process of liberal democracy and capitalist economics. Now with the economic success of China, we can no longer take the forward march of democracy for granted."