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The articles observes how events in the Middle East represent some of the most promising democratic developments in the region in years. After protesters prompted Lebanon's Syrian-backed prime minister to resign--itself an unprecedented event--they continued protests demanding an end to Syria's military occupation. In the wake of a historic Palestinian election, the Palestinian parliament threatened to topple the government unless the new prime minister replaced corruption-tainted aides, a first in the Arab world. Saudi Arabia's monarchy is permitting first-time municipal elections. Egypt's president, Hosni Mubarak, made called for a constitutional amendment to allow multicandidate presidential elections. And after months of pushing for greater democratic reforms in the Middle East, the U.S. President George W. Bush administration helped Iraq stage its first free parliamentary election. U.S. officials are beginning to compare these developments to the wave of democratization that swept eastern Europe in 1989 after the collapse of the Soviet bloc. But some critics warn that an abrupt transition to democracy in the Mideast could bring deeply religious and even radical elements to power. INSET: A CHANCE TO VOTE.