Frustrated Iraqi Commentator: How Can We Have a Democracy If We Can't Figure Out Basic Technology?

A television host on Etejah TV in Iraq grew so frustrated by the technical difficulties plaguing his interview that he seemingly lost faith in prospect for democracy in the Arab world.

After an interlude where Ali Abu Sukkar, a member of the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood, spoke without seeming to hear him, Tawfiq Shoman turned to the audience in frustration.

"I deeply apologize to our viewers for the disruption in the audio and video. This seems to be the reality of the Arab world," he remarked impatiently. "We do not know how to run things – neither in politics nor in technical matters. We do not know how to operate a satellite and receive audio and video, yet we want to have a democracy. Goodbye..."

(Photo via MEMRI-TV)

The translation and video come from the Middle East Media Research Institute.

There has been no word yet on whether the television host has faced repercussions for his disparaging remarks about the correlation between technological capabilities and the ability to govern.

You can watch the complete clip below, courtesy of MEMRI-TV:

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