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7 · Wednesday, December 7, 2011 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com International take on landscape of Middle East By Kim Arnott SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER The spring that brought fledgling democracies to many countries in the Middle East will likely change our world too, according to Gwynne Dyer. Canadian-born Dyer, whose twice-weekly column on international affairs is published in 45 countries around the world, predicts the "absolutely exhilarating" move toward democracy in the Middle East is likely y to last. He also believes it will lead to a reliable oil supply and a lower risk of terrorist attacks for everyone in the world. Speaking to students at Oakville's Appleby College last week, Dyer said that the 300 million people in 18 Arab countries in the world have largely lived under brutal, corrupt and incompetent governments for the last 40 years. "It was one thug after another, ruling over people who were deprived of their freedom and g growing gp poorer as time p passed," , he said. "These were regimes that should have been overthrown ages ago. They shouldn't have survived past the '70s, given their performances." Despite the sweep of democracy across southeast Asia and communist Eastern Europe throughout the 1980s and '90s, countries in the Middle East didn't rise up against their dictators. He suggested that was largely because revolutionaries in those countries relied on an ideology of Islamism typified yp by y the Taliban. Generally, that proposed a philosophy that suggested God would rescue them from poverty and political problems, if only people adopted more religiously-focused lives, according to Dyer. Like revolutionary groups around the world, Dyer said, the Islamists used terrorist attacks to attempt to provoke their governments into brutal crackdowns, which they hoped would drive the population to their cause. But despite successfully creating ever See Threat page 10 Gwynne Dyer DECEMBER 10 NO TAX ONE DAY ONLY Watch Us Fashions SALE Oakv Oa kville' le e e' 's Self f-E f-E Este st t te eem Te Team What's better than the best super-automatic espresso machines in the e world? The best Super-automatic espresso machines in the world, tax free. Join us on Saturday December 10th for our Jura Sales Event where we e pay the tax on all Jura Coffee Centres. 50 50% OFF Gift Certif icates Now Available Karen & Kim 315 Steeles Ave E. Milton, Ontario Tol Free: 1-800-425-5405 Tol 1-800-425-4505 Local: 905-636-0922 905-636-0922 1131 11 31 Not Not ttin t ng ng ghi hill Gate G te te (Gle (Glen e Ab Abbey) bey y) ) | 905905-827 5 827-22 27 2 227 27 2 71 Open 7 days a week Book Your Holiday Party Now! New Year's Eve Specials M MEN MENU #1 MENU #2 MENU #3 MENU #4 Inc Includes: Includes: Includes: Includes: Lasagna g or Cannelloni Italian Salad & Dressing I Bread & Butter Lasagna g or Cannelloni Veal or Chicken Parmigiana V Italian Salad & Dressing Bread & Butter Lasagna g or Cannelloni Veal or Chicken Parmigiana V Peas & Mushrooms Roast Potatoes Italian Salad & Dressing Bread & Butter Lasagna g or Cannelloni V Veal or Chicken Scaloppine Baby Carrots Roast Potatoes Italian Salad & Dressing Bread & Butter $ ·P Per Person ·No Substitutions ·Minimum order 12 People · · Valid V Dec. 31 Only Du D un und da as s St E 7 $ +T Tax ·Per Person ·No Substitutions ·Minimum order 12 People · Valid V Dec. 31 Only 12 $ +Tax T ·Per Person ·No Substitutions ·Minimum order 12 People · Valid V Dec. 31 Only 15 $ +Tax T ·Per Person ·No Substitutions ·Minimum order 12 People · Valid V Dec. 31 Only 16 +Tax T No Delivery - Pick Up Only - 48 Hours Notice Required Dr el cha 403 Mi e c n Pri Up pp p per Midd le e Rd R E Trafalga T a 2 5 0 1 P r i n c e M i c h a e l D r ( a t D u n d a s S t . ) ( 9 0 5 ) 2 5 7-9 2 0 0 rR Rd w w w. p a lm a p a s t a . c o m H o u r s : M o n d a y t o F r i d a y 9 a m - 7 p m , S a t u rd a y 9 a m - 6 p m , S u n d a y 1 0 a m - 4 p m