Need The US Spend Millions To Improve Her Image In the Middle East?
Ismail Imadudeen
April 23, 2008
"Down with America", "Let´s fight the devil, America", Let´s announce
Jihad against America". These are the shouts you often hear from this part of the world, but at the same time you will hear them say; " I am wearing something made in America", "Let´s eat at McDonalds", "I got my degree from an American University", and so on.
These are the contradicting statements heard daily in the Arab world. The most striking question here is that: do the Arabs really hate America? This is something that many Americans would like to know. As an Arab, who lives in an Arab country, my opinion is that the Arabs in general don´t hate America. On the contrary, it could be understood from bits and pieces of conversation everywhere that America is perceived as a huge, prosperous and advanced country. In this part of the world, many feel proud to be in any way affiliated or have something "American". The Arabs love Hollywood movies, American music and patronize all American fast food chains.
Even, surprisingly, many of the so called "extremist Muslims," admire the freedom given to the Muslims in America to practice their faith specially before 9/11. This may explains why the boycott against American products did not work while on the other hand it did successfully against the Danish products.
So why does a margin of hatred and vengeance still exist? It seems , unfortunately that the successive American administrations have been so good at "disfiguring" America´s image in the Arab world and have been so supportive, indirectly to Arab extremists. This means that the American administrations, almost did and still do everything that strengthens the extremists in the Middle
East, and weakens the majority moderates.
The way by which the American administration handled the Iraqi war, for instance, was a complete chaos. Before the war there were sanctions imposed which harmed the Iraqi people more than the previous Iraqi regime. About a half million Iraqi children died as a result of the shortage of food and medicine. During the sanctions, the then Secretary of state Madeline Albright justified the deaths and said that" it was worth it," an irresponsible statement that heated the Arab street so much.
Then the war started. America was driven by a false motive, i.e. the existence of weapons of mass destruction, but deep beneath, the real intention was to abolish a hostile regime to both Israel and America.
Well, today we can see that America has moved all those troops and spent all those billions of dollars to serve another state called "Iran."
In fact, Saddam´s regime was more hostile to Iran than to Israel and America. Today, we can see how strong Iran is and how hostile it is to Israel.
It´s ironic that some of the decision makers and advisers in the White House are so shallow to call for an attack against the Iranian regime now, after realizing that their advice before to attack Saddam´s regime served Iran best. Do those highly paid, and high profile advisers have any idea about the possible consequences of that action?
In fact, I consider any caller for America to be involved in any other military confrontation in the Middle East to be an enemy of America and the American people, in the first place. I don´t say that the Iranian military can outdo the American one, but I am sure that Iran, if attacked, can cause unprecedented casualties in the US military within a few hours! On the other hand, petrol prices will be skyrocketing leading to a global disaster.
Enough silly and unstudied movements and let´s think of a way that gets America out of the Iraqi mud and revive the good image that America used to have in the Middle East.
The critical question here is what should be done?
First, America must get use of its Arab allies, i.e Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. People in the White House have to deal with America´s Arab allies with little respect. I think these people may have some views that could be useful and productive to America. I think that just listening and considering President Mubarak´s advice before the Iraqi war would have saved many lives and billions of dollars.
Second, the Iraqi issue must be resolved through political and diplomatic means. The American troops must not be pulled out so soon but a comprehensive political solution must be underway which could involve all the internal and external parties concerned with Iraq; including the Baathists , Saderists, Iran, Syria and Turkey.
Third, Iran and Syria should be contained somehow. Any actions hostile to Iran or Syria will lead to horrible consequences on the region as a whole. I don´t say to abide by the Iranian rules, for instance but Iran´s issue, in particular must be resolved on an international basis not American basis.
It has to be understood that Nejad´s empty and meaningless statement against Israel was condemned by the whole world. It has to be understood that no country in the world will accept Iran wiping out Israel from the map, so the US need not alone go and strike Iran for Nejad´s silly jokes.
Fourth, Hezbolla, Iran´s ally in Lebanon, would be undermined simply after Israel pull-out from Shebba farms in southern Lebanon, making it completely illegitimate for Hezbolla to launch further attacks against Israel. On the other hand easing the Syrian axis solves Lebanon´s issue automatically.
Fifth, America has to be a real unbiased broker in the Israel-Arab conflict. This is in favor of Israel more than the Arabs themselves. There are so many Arabs who don´t want to throw Israel in the sea. So why don´t you work with them?
Sixth, how about King Abdulla´s initiative (which became an Arab initiative later)? This is a golden chance for the whole region, so why ignore it? It has to be understood that the phase of no war and no peace wouldn´t last for long. It is so dangerous to leave the Israeli-Arab conflict open like this. Everyday passes without reaching a peace settlement results in the birth of another Bin Laden, another Nejad and another Hamas somewhere in the world!
In fact there is no more to say, but really one feels so fed- up for so many chances for peace and prosperity but are forgone forever.
Jihad against America". These are the shouts you often hear from this part of the world, but at the same time you will hear them say; " I am wearing something made in America", "Let´s eat at McDonalds", "I got my degree from an American University", and so on.
These are the contradicting statements heard daily in the Arab world. The most striking question here is that: do the Arabs really hate America? This is something that many Americans would like to know. As an Arab, who lives in an Arab country, my opinion is that the Arabs in general don´t hate America. On the contrary, it could be understood from bits and pieces of conversation everywhere that America is perceived as a huge, prosperous and advanced country. In this part of the world, many feel proud to be in any way affiliated or have something "American". The Arabs love Hollywood movies, American music and patronize all American fast food chains.
Even, surprisingly, many of the so called "extremist Muslims," admire the freedom given to the Muslims in America to practice their faith specially before 9/11. This may explains why the boycott against American products did not work while on the other hand it did successfully against the Danish products.
So why does a margin of hatred and vengeance still exist? It seems , unfortunately that the successive American administrations have been so good at "disfiguring" America´s image in the Arab world and have been so supportive, indirectly to Arab extremists. This means that the American administrations, almost did and still do everything that strengthens the extremists in the Middle
East, and weakens the majority moderates.
The way by which the American administration handled the Iraqi war, for instance, was a complete chaos. Before the war there were sanctions imposed which harmed the Iraqi people more than the previous Iraqi regime. About a half million Iraqi children died as a result of the shortage of food and medicine. During the sanctions, the then Secretary of state Madeline Albright justified the deaths and said that" it was worth it," an irresponsible statement that heated the Arab street so much.
Then the war started. America was driven by a false motive, i.e. the existence of weapons of mass destruction, but deep beneath, the real intention was to abolish a hostile regime to both Israel and America.
Well, today we can see that America has moved all those troops and spent all those billions of dollars to serve another state called "Iran."
In fact, Saddam´s regime was more hostile to Iran than to Israel and America. Today, we can see how strong Iran is and how hostile it is to Israel.
It´s ironic that some of the decision makers and advisers in the White House are so shallow to call for an attack against the Iranian regime now, after realizing that their advice before to attack Saddam´s regime served Iran best. Do those highly paid, and high profile advisers have any idea about the possible consequences of that action?
In fact, I consider any caller for America to be involved in any other military confrontation in the Middle East to be an enemy of America and the American people, in the first place. I don´t say that the Iranian military can outdo the American one, but I am sure that Iran, if attacked, can cause unprecedented casualties in the US military within a few hours! On the other hand, petrol prices will be skyrocketing leading to a global disaster.
Enough silly and unstudied movements and let´s think of a way that gets America out of the Iraqi mud and revive the good image that America used to have in the Middle East.
The critical question here is what should be done?
First, America must get use of its Arab allies, i.e Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. People in the White House have to deal with America´s Arab allies with little respect. I think these people may have some views that could be useful and productive to America. I think that just listening and considering President Mubarak´s advice before the Iraqi war would have saved many lives and billions of dollars.
Second, the Iraqi issue must be resolved through political and diplomatic means. The American troops must not be pulled out so soon but a comprehensive political solution must be underway which could involve all the internal and external parties concerned with Iraq; including the Baathists , Saderists, Iran, Syria and Turkey.
Third, Iran and Syria should be contained somehow. Any actions hostile to Iran or Syria will lead to horrible consequences on the region as a whole. I don´t say to abide by the Iranian rules, for instance but Iran´s issue, in particular must be resolved on an international basis not American basis.
It has to be understood that Nejad´s empty and meaningless statement against Israel was condemned by the whole world. It has to be understood that no country in the world will accept Iran wiping out Israel from the map, so the US need not alone go and strike Iran for Nejad´s silly jokes.
Fourth, Hezbolla, Iran´s ally in Lebanon, would be undermined simply after Israel pull-out from Shebba farms in southern Lebanon, making it completely illegitimate for Hezbolla to launch further attacks against Israel. On the other hand easing the Syrian axis solves Lebanon´s issue automatically.
Fifth, America has to be a real unbiased broker in the Israel-Arab conflict. This is in favor of Israel more than the Arabs themselves. There are so many Arabs who don´t want to throw Israel in the sea. So why don´t you work with them?
Sixth, how about King Abdulla´s initiative (which became an Arab initiative later)? This is a golden chance for the whole region, so why ignore it? It has to be understood that the phase of no war and no peace wouldn´t last for long. It is so dangerous to leave the Israeli-Arab conflict open like this. Everyday passes without reaching a peace settlement results in the birth of another Bin Laden, another Nejad and another Hamas somewhere in the world!
In fact there is no more to say, but really one feels so fed- up for so many chances for peace and prosperity but are forgone forever.
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