EU CP 1NC

Counterplan Text: The European Union should …

First is solvency - The EU has an effective infrastructure to assist democratic transitions through a variety of means - it’s based on equal partnership

Tocci and Cassarino 11 (Nathalie, Deputy Director of the Istituto Affari Internazionali, Rome, and Jean-Pierre, professor at the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, European University Institute, Florence, and scientific advisor at the Istituto Affari Internazionali, Rome, “Rethinking the EU’s Mediterranean Policies Post-1/11,” Istituto Affari Internazional, March 6, 2011, http://www.iai.it/pdf/DocIAI/iaiwp1106.pdf)

The Arab revolts do not … and the civil societies of the neighbouring countries too.

Next is the internal net-benefit - Counterplan solves EU credibility

Seiler 11 (Julia, “Arab Spring: what think tanks say,” Think Tank Dictionary, May 15, 2011,http://www.thinktankdirectory.org/blog/2011/05/15/arab-spring-what-think-tanks-say/)

Scholars agree that the developments … helping its neighbors stabilize.

Solves multiple scenarios for extinction

Bruton 2 (John T.D, The Irish Times, Thursday, January 31, 2002,  A Report For The Joint Oireachtas Committee On European Affairs)

As the Laeken Declaration put it, "… that will otherwise overwhelm us.

EU CP Block

Extend Burke that unlike the US, the EU is considered empirically to be a more credible actor in the Middle East, especially regarding human rights abuses

EU solves democracy promotion and transition

Palacio 11 (2011-06-01, Ana Palacio, a former Spanish foreign minister and a former senior vice president of the World Bank, is a senior fellow and lecturer at Yale University. The Arab Spring and Europe’s Turn, http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/palacio1/English)

The consequences of this approach have a …  with a Euro-Mediterranean free-trade area.

The EU solves democracy promotion in the Arab world

Abboud 2010 (Noufal Project Coordinator International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance project on Democracy in the Arab Word, focus elections, political parties and women’s participation in politics in Egypt and Yemen; MA in Human Rights from Mahidol University and BA in Law from University Hassan; "Regenerating the State in the Arab World: The Role Of the European Union in Democracy Building"; http://www.idea.int/resources/analysis/upload/Abboud_low_1.pdf, SRM)

It is only with knowledge of the …  the role of either catalyst or teacher.

EU is in the best position to solve – Long-term democracy

Demdigest 9-2-11 A European approach to developing democracy’s ‘hardware and software’

Posted Demdigest on September 2, 2011 @ 5:15 pm In Arab Spring,Democracy Assistance,Democracy Promotion,Democratic transitions,Europe,National Endowment for Democracy,NGOs and Civil Society http://www.demdigest.net/blog/2011/09/a-european-approach-to-developing-democracys-hardware-and-software/

Among the “essential principles” on … if it is to help sustain transitions in the Arab world.

Perceived relation to the U.S. – It will tank the effectiveness of EU policies in the Arab world and undermine its leadership

Fakhro 9 (E.A., Master of Law Student in International Human Rights Law at Harvard Law School, “The European Union and Islam: Democracy Promotion in Bahrain and the Arab World,” Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, 2009, http://www.idea.int/resources/analysis/upload/Fakhro_low_2.pdf)

In the light of US hegemony in … ally and partner of the Arab world.

Perm fails – EU and US partnership seen negativity by region.

Abboud 10 (Noufal Project Coordinator International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance project on Democracy in the Arab Word, focus elections, political parties and women’s participation in politics in Egypt and Yemen; MA in Human Rights from Mahidol University and BA in Law from University Hassan; "Regenerating the State in the Arab World: The Role Of the European Union in Democracy Building"; http://www.idea.int/resources/analysis/upload/Abboud_low_1.pdf)

Finally, the Arab world desperately … Islamic traditions of tolerance, diversity and justice.

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Saudi DA 1NC

The Arab Spring puts the US and Saudi Arabia on a collision course – US support for democratic movements will ruin US-Saudi relations – cuts off US oil access.

Nasr 2011 (Vali Nasr, Bloomberg View columnist, Will the Saudis Kill the Arab Spring? Bloomberg, http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-23/will-the-saudis-kill-the-arab-spring-.html)

In his speech last week on the Middle East … policy as a direct threat to them.

Pushing democracy assistance will collapse US-Saudi relations

Tarpley 11 (Press TV interview with Webster Griffin Tarpley, author, journalist and lecturer from Washington, June 18, "Saudi Arabia alarmed by US intentions" http://www.presstv.com/detail/189582.html)

Webster Griffin Tarpley: Well, I think we … means to destabilize the kingdom.

Saudi-Iran tensions increase oil prices and shocks and cause an arms race

Spindle and Coker 2011 (Bill, Maraget, WSJ, 4-16, http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704116404576262744106483816.html?mod=WSJ_World_LeadStory)

"The cold war is a reality," says one … is a looming nuclear arms race in the region.

Saudi-Iran conflict goes nuclear- Saudi will get nukes from Pakistan

Guzansky 11 (Yoel, “research fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University”, The Australian, July 1, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/tehran-tests-saudis-nerve-on-nuclear-weapons/story-e6frg6ux-1226085108555, accessed 8/3/11,)

UNTIL recently it appeared that … that help guarantee the continuity of the regime.

Saudi DA Block

And – it turns the case – Saudi Arabia is a powerful countervailing power who will repress any change induced by the plan

Democracy Digest 11 (6/15, “Saudis the countervailing force to democratic momentum.”)

Viewing the Arab Spring … Iran reversed the Arab Spring of 2005.

Saudi lashout means no united international community – means the military will rollback the plan

Korski 2011 (Daniel, European Council On Foreign Relations, July 5, 2011 “Arab Spring: Without military reform Egypt cannot democratize”, http://www.egovmonitor.com/node/42669)

The key consideration is to cajole … the comfortable kleptocracy of Military Inc.

Strong US Saudi alliance key to Middle East democracy

Lazazzero 8 (Law Clerk at Liberty Mutual Group, “The U.S.-Saudi Alliance: A Necessary Shift toward Peace,” www.thepresidency.org/storage/documents/Fellows2008/Lazazzero.pdf)

Connected with the United … chances of these reforms having success.

Turning point in relations now – US reaction to Arab Spring will be key

Financial Times 11 (June 16, "Arab spring tests US-Saudi relationship" http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4082dc70-984d-11e0-ae45-00144feab49a.html#axzz1SlOYMHrW)

Still, Washington and Riyadh could … notably when the US recognised the state of Israel in 1948.

No MENA democracy aid now – if there is its small and sluggish now

Rosenberg 11 (David, Columnist for the Jerusalem Post, “Doubts surround aid to Arab Spring countries,” Jerusalem Post, September 13, 2011, http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=237759&R=R3)

Urgently needed funds haven't …, London’s Financial Times reported on September 7.

We don’t have to win that the US-Saudi relationship collapses to win an impact

Takeyh 2011 (Ray, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, The New York Times, June 8)

Today, Riyadh and Washington see the … to be more turbulent and unstable

Even if they win this argument we still access our DA – Pre-emption, lashout, and internal instability are all independent of US relations – short-term reactions outweigh

Quinn 11 (Andrew, “Analysis: Bahrain crisis exposes U.S.-Saudi Arabia rift,” Best Growth Stock, March 15, 2011, http://www.bestgrowthstock.com/stock-market-news/2011/03/15/analysis-bahrain-crisis-exposes-u-s-saudi-arabia-rift/)

Few suggest that the fundamentals … Saudi Arabia as “an important partner.”

Their resiliency args assume low level diplomacy - people in charge aren’t rational and will backlash to the plan

Bakshi 11 (C., interviewing Molavi-Mid East Scholar at the New American Foundation, “The state of the Saudi-U.S. relationship,” March 22, 2011, globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/22/the-state-of-the-saudi-u-s-relationship/)

I talked with Afshin Molavi, Middle East scholar at … that will likely vote along sectarian lines.

Pushing for political reform threatens the US-Saudi alliance – we control their uniqueness arguments – that causes oil market instability that threatens economic recovery

Herald 11 (International Herald Tribune, 3-19, "For Obama, Bahrain is Mideast's hottest spot; Region in Revolt" LEXIS)

''In terms of concrete American national … would only open the door to greater instability.

Increased Saudi regional influence will shatter US credibility on democracy and cause sectarian wars that eliminate the potential for political and civil society reform

Escobar 2011 (Pepe Escobar, author of Globalistan: How the Globalized World is Dissolving into Liquid War, Fear and loathing in the House of Saud, April 21, 2011, Asia Times, http://atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/MD21Ak01.html)

It's the House of Saud counter-revolution … a shallow grave in the desert sands. 

Payroll Tax Cuts Pols 1NC

Full year tax cut extension will pass – Obama is pushing it now and it’s the top of the docket.

AP 1/3 (“Obama readying for re-election bid,” USA Today, January 3, 2012, http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/story/2012-01-03/Obama-election/52349672/1)

President Obama will waste little … break away from a deeply unpopular Congress.

Democracy Assistance kills capital – Bush jacked it up forever

Lappin 10 (Richard, Ph.D. Candidate at University of Leuven, “Obama and Democracy Assistance: Challenges and Responses,” Carnegie Council, February 1, 2010, http://www.carnegiecouncil.org/resources/ethics_online/0042.html)

Unfortunately though, the Bush rhetoric … remain a preserve of U.S. foreign policy.

Obama will have to use all of his political capital to overcome Republican opposition

Philadelphia Inquirer 11 (“The president's jobs speech: Don't expect miracles,” September 8, 2011, http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/inq_ed_board/The-presidents-jobs-speech-Dont-expect-miracles.html)

Yet Republicans say that job-creating …, because those who get it will spend every penny of it.

Key to sustaining economic growth – failure to pass causes recession

Marr and Highsmith 11 (Chuck and Brian, “Letting Payroll Tax Cut Expire Would Shrink Worker Paychecks and Damage Weak Economy,” Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, September 7, 2011, http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3572)

Failure by Congress to extend … downside risk to the outlook for U.S. growth."

Economic collapse causes global war

Austin 9 (Michael, resident scholar at AEI, “Averting Disaster,” The Daily Standard, February 6, 2009 http://www.aei.org/article/100044)

As they deal with a collapsing world economy… destroyed international systems in the past.

T – Can’t Remove a Barrier

A. Interpretation – Increase means the affirmative has to add to democracy assistance or make it greater

Random House Dictionary 11 [“Increase” http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/increase]

to make greater, …; add to: to increase taxes.

And “Democracy Assistance” means using the existing framework

US CODE ‘7 [§8262. United States democracy assistance programs, http://law.justia.com/codes/us/2009/title22/22usc8262.html/]

Congress finds the following: … of such mechanisms for such assistance.

B. Violation – They don’t directly increase democracy assistance but just remove a barrier that may lead to an increase

Increase is an immediate growth from a status quo baseline – that’s mutually exclusive with removing the baseline itself

Rogers 5 (Judge, STATE OF NEW YORK, ET AL., PETITIONERS v. U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, RESPONDENT, NSR MANUFACTURERS ROUNDTABLE, ET AL., INTERVENORS, 2005 U.S. App. LEXIS 12378, **; 60 ERC (BNA) 1791, 6/24, lexis)

 [**48]  Statutory Interpretation. HN16While the … years ago when the engine was in perfect condition

C. Reasons to Prefer

Ground – Core negative ground is based on a positive increase in assistance not removing a barrier which may or may not lead to one – that links out of aid bad, backlash DAs, and relations DAs because these changes are barely perceived

Precise Limits – Bureaucratic structure of the government means there are lots of restrictions that can be removed– combined with 6 changing geopolitical contexts, and dozens of regular assistance mechanism, the topic becomes unmanageable – this is why the framers picked “increase” instead of “expand”

 Effects – Even if they result in an increase, plan text in a vacuum is not – effects T is a voting issue because it’s infinitely regressive – any number of things can result in democratization – and it mixes burdens makes debates messy and unmanageable

D. Voter

T – Material Assistance

A)     Interpretation: “Democracy Assistance” is grant-aided material, technical and financial support to pro-democracy initiatives.

Burnell 7 (Peter, Professor of Politics at the University of Warwick, England, “Does International Democracy Promotion Work?,” Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik, 2007, http://www.uni-bonn.de/~uholtz/lehrmaterial/begleit_burnell.pdf)

All things considered, however, there is a shortage … policy for things like managing the economy.

B)     Violation: The affirmative does not provide any form of material assistance that aids in the election or transition process – just remove barrier

C)     Standards:

A)     Ground – material assistance is key to Disads like politics DA’s and aid tradeoff Das and all of the core counterplans and criticism on the topic.

B)     Predictable Limits – Material assistance is the only predictable interpretation on the topic.  Their interpretation explodes the topic, allowing for consultation on anything that could increase democracy by anyone in the USFG and any of the topical countries.

It’s a voting issue for fairness and education

T Block

Democracy assistance is the non-profit transfer of funds AND expertise AND material – prefer our evidence.  Lappin is the foremost expert on democracy assistance and was the primary author in the topic paper.

Lappin 10 (Richard, Centre for Peace Research and Strategic Studies at the University of Leuven, visiting scholar at the Faculty of Political Sciences at the University of Belgrade, “What we talk about when we talk about Democracy Assistance: The Problem of Definition in Post-Conflict Approaches to Democratisation,” Central European Journal of International and Security Studies, Vol 4, Issue 1, 2010)

Democracy assistance can be most …, civil society groups, media groups and political parties.

Courts Stripping DA 1NC

A. Efforts to strip the Courts are increasing in the status quo but they won’t succeed now

Groppe, 06 (Maureen, Writer for the Star Washington Bureau, 7/20, “Lawmakers Seek to bar hot issues from Courts,” <http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060720/NEWS02/607200410/-1/ZONES01>)

What do you do when a judge makes a …they don't like the decisions.

B. Controversial decisions spark court stripping.

Eyes On Justice, 2003 (Newsletter of the Justice At Stake Campaign, 5/29)

(“A New Wave of Court-Stripping?,” <http://faircourts.org/files/EyesonJusticeforMay29.pdf>)

The separation of powers … cases involving the death penalty, asylum, deportation, and prison conditions.

C. Court stripping is a violation of separation of powers which must be rejected to prevent tyranny – weigh our impact like a nuclear war.

Redish and Cisar, 1991 (Martin, Professor of Law and Public Policy at Northwestern University, and Elizabeth, Law Clerk to Chief Judge William Bauer of the United States Court of Appeals,

(“Constitutional Perspectives: Article: ‘If Angels Were To Govern’: The Need for Pragmatic Formalism In Separation of Powers Theory,” Duke Law Journal, Lexis-Nexis)

In any event, the political history of … forced into the position of saying, "I told you so."

Democracy Assistance K 1NC

The aff’s exportation of western-style liberal democracy dominates the population of the recipient country

Conway and Singh 11 (Janet and Jakeet, Professor of Sociology at Brock University and Professor of Political Science at University of Toronto, “Radical Democracy in Global Perspective: notes from the pluriverse,” Third World Quarterly, Vol 32, Iss 4, May, Sydnor)

One face of this imperial …  of the Third and Fourth Worlds.

The benign representation of “democracy assistance” masks transnational corporate and state interests in the aff

Gerald Sussman 06, teaches urban studies and communications at Portland State University and has published widely on the international political economy of information technology, mass media, and development.  The Myths of ‘Democracy Assistance’: U.S. Political Intervention in Post-Soviet Eastern Europe,  2006, Volume 58, Issue 07 (December), MCJ

U.S. interventionism, except perhaps in the … ”—referring to their favorite place of lodging.29

Turns case – Middle East democratization ensures failure of the aff

Mohamad G. Alkadry 02, is an Assistant Professor of Public Administration at West Virginia University. He received his doctorate from Florida Atlantic University., “RECITING COLONIAL SCRIPTS: COLONIALISM, GLOBALIZATION AND DEMOCRACY IN THE DECOLONIZED MIDDLE EAST”, Administrative Theory & Praxis Vol. 24, No. 4, 2002: 739–762, MCJ

In writing this article, history … the decolonized Middle East even grimmer.

Neoliberalism makes multiple scenarios for extinction inevitable

Deutsch 9 (Judith, president, Science for Peace. Member of Canadian psychoanalytic society, “Pestilence, Famine, War, Neoliberalism, and Premature Deaths”, Peace Magazine, June-Sept 2009, http://archive.peacemagazine.org/v25n3p18.htm.)

Worse still, many commentators suggest that …, and thinly disguised reliance on threatened use."

Alternative- Reject the aff’s discursive positioning of the U.S. as the expert on democracy with the correct prescription for it in lieu of a democratic dialogue that seeks to work with the people in question to develop the democracy they desire – the aff forecloses this opportunity by placing the U.S. in the role of the teacher, using the language of “assistance”, and focusing on “liberal” methods of transformation.

Kurki ‘10 (Milja, Aberystwyth University, International Studies Review, “Democracy and Conceptual Contestability: Reconsidering Conceptions of Democracy in Democracy

Promotion,” p. 380-381)

However, another far more serious line … to deal with the contestation that currently exists.

Democracy Assistance K Block

Exporting democracy is imperialism

Doyle 3, (Michael, Professor of Liberalism Oxford University, Michael Doyle, “Kant, Liberal Legacies, and Foreign Affairs, Part I,” Philosophy and Public Affairs, vol. 12, no. 3http://fds.oup.com/www.oup.co.uk/pdf/0-19-829678-9.pdf)

Nor were the liberals the first to … of all the citizens. The demos makes naval power effective and cheap.

Even if they are not on face a violent form of democratic promotion, the imperial logic of the aff results in extinction.

Eckhardt 90 (William, Lentz Peace Research Laboratory of St. Louis, JOURNAL OF PEACE RESEARCH, February 1990, p. 15-16)

Modern Western Civilization … urgent indeed. Life itself may depend upon our choice.

State based solutions cannot solve and link to the K – Transformative politics must begin with the social and oppressed people’s struggles, not the configuration of liberal democracy.  

Conway and Singh 11 (Janet and Jakeet, Professor of Sociology at Brock University and Professor of Political Science at University of Toronto, “Radical Democracy in Global Perspective: notes from the pluriverse,” Third World Quarterly, Vol 32, Iss 4, May, Sydnor) 

The approaches we cite here tend to …  colonising forces facilitated by them.  

US action turns case – State goals perpetuate the atrocities democracy assistance claims to solve

Herod 01 (James, a long-time activist/organizer in anarchist communities, “A Stake, Not a Mistake: On Not Seeing the Enemy”, October, http://www.jamesherod.info/index.php?sec=paper&id=9)

So what has been the response of the 'progressive …t it will wake up, take notice, apologize, and stop doing it.

US intervention serves Western neocolonial interests – state based assistance can’t solve

Parenti 95 (Michael, author, lecturer, and political analyst, “Against Empire”.)

Sometimes imperial domination is explained …everywhere—frequently assisted by the sword.

State-based democratic reform will never work – only the alt solve.

Workers Vanguard ‘8 (No. 920, Sept. 12, “Obama Offers Facelift for U.S. Imperialism”, http://www.icl-fi.org/english/wv/920/obama.html, Accessed 6/27/2010 , Sydnor)

 The Democrats’ rhetoric about “hope” … workers party to fight for socialist revolution! 

Case (Egypt)

Egypt’s military is leading a weak democracy now, solving public discontent. More democratization undermines their control.

Martini and Taylor 11 - JEFF MARTINI is a Project Associate at the RAND Corporation. JULIE TAYLOR is a Political Scientist at the RAND Corporation., Commanding Democracy in Egypt. By: Martini, Jeff, Taylor, Julie, Foreign Affairs, 00157120, Sep/Oct2011, Vol. 90, Issue 5, http://www.rand.org/commentary/2011/08/25/FA.html

Thus far, the evidence suggests … many Egyptians will accept this compromise.

Civilian control causes war with Israel.

Benn 11 – Editor of Haaretz, Aluf, Overcoming Fear and Anxiety in Tel Aviv, Foreign Affairs, 2-8, http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/67353/aluf-benn/overcoming-fear-and-anxiety-in-tel-aviv

Israel's regional ties have always … expression of American naiveté.

Nuke war

Eberhart 1 – Quoting Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Seymour M. Hersh, David, Samson Option: Israel's Plan to Prevent Mass Destruction Attacks, Newsmax, 10-16, http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2001/10/15/112430.shtml

Should war break out in the … resort, would now be a strong possibility."

Middle east democracy doesn’t cause peace – only causes transition wars.

Neuberger 11 - Prof. Benny Neuberger teaches political science at the Open University of Israel, Between democracy and peace, Haaretz, 2-11, http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/between-democracy-and-peace-1.342641

In the Middle East there have … Soviet Union and the former Yugoslavia.

Give a Russia war impact zero probability – politics, military superiority, economic concerns, and nuclear security all check war

Thomas Graham, senior advisor on Russia in the US National Security Council staff 2002-2007, September 2007, "Russia in Global Affairs” July - September 2007,The Dialectics of Strength and Weakness

An astute historian of Russia, Martin Malia, … constructive long-term relations with Russia.

No Egypt-Israel war – disputes happen all the time – your evidence is just fear mongering

Salam 2011 (Amina Abdul Salam, ‘Egyptian-Israeli war doubtful’ The Egyptian Gazette, August 24, 2011.)

The recent killing of two Egyptian officers … soldiers on the border to enhance national security.

Uncertainty from the Arab Spring has caused Egypt and Israel to reaffirm their alliance – disputes are normal – the embassy raid didn’t tank relations

Kirkpatrick and Kershner 2011 (DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK and ISABEL KERSHNER, Israel Reoccupies Embassy in Cairo, September 19, 2011, http://www.ocala.com/article/20110919/ZNYT03/109193023/-1/news?Title=Israel-Reoccupies-Embassy-in-Cairo)

Officials in both governments … went through a horrible experience.” 

Case (Syria)

NO risk of Solvency - Their own solvency author concludes that that AFF does not go far enough – several warrants

Baker 10 [Baker, Lee “The Unintended Consequences of U.S. Export Restrictions on Software and Online Services for American foreign Policy and Human Rights. Harvard Journal of Law & Technology, Volume 23, Number 2 spring 2010]

However, these reforms do not go far … software.Lack of internet plays into the hands of revolutionaries

The government will attempt to censor the internet to prevent it from being used as a tool for political movements against it

Shirky 11 (Clay, Professor of New Media at New York University, The Political Power of Social Media, Foreign Affairs, Jan/Feb2011, Vol. 90 Issue 1, p28-41, EBSCO)

This obviously does not mean that … needs to minimize access to information.

Instrumental internet statecraft is ineffective – multiple reasons

Shirky 11 (Clay, Professor of New Media at New York University, The Political Power of Social Media, Foreign Affairs, Jan/Feb2011, Vol. 90 Issue 1, p28-41, EBSCO)

Despite this basic truth -- that … leading to cynicism about its motives.

Turn:  Increasing access to internet actually quells revolution – the case would decrease activism and rebellion making it easier to control and repress than status quo

Cohen, 2011.  [Noam, “In Unsettled Times, Media Can Be a Call to Action, or a Distraction,” NY Times, August 28, 2011, http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/29/business/media/in-times-of-unrest-social-networks-can-be-a-distraction.html?_r=3]

The mass media, including … than one massive gathering in Tahrir.”