Muslims, Arabs wary of U.S. tsunami aid

Boston Globe ^ | 1/06/05 | Nadia Abou El-Magd, AP

[kattracks]

CAIRO, Egypt -- Even when America is doing something for Muslims -- in this case, helping mostly Muslim Indonesia and other tsunami-battered nations -- it comes in for criticism in the Middle East, where resentment and suspicion color thinking about the United States. On the streets of Tehran, technician Dariush Darabian accused Americans of "talking more than they actually do." Jordanian columnist Aida al-Najjar wrote in the daily Ad-Dustour that America's was exploiting "the suffering of people" to try to improve its image.

[snip]

"I give them (Americans) credit for helping the tsunami victims," said Hassan al-Aali of Bahrain's National Committee for the Support of Iraqi People, who has organized several protests against the American occupation of Iraq.

"I believe their help is genuinely for humanitarian reasons," al-Aali said, adding that the U.S. has no vested interest in the disaster-struck areas because "there is no oil there."

[snip]

In a part of the world where conspiracy theories greet every development, the disaster was no different. Contributors to some Web sites known as clearinghouses for militant Muslim comment wrote that America knew the tsunami was coming but moved only to protect its military bases, a theory reminiscent of speculation U.S. officials staged the Sept. 11 attacks to demonize Muslims.

[snip]

The immensity of the disaster, though, also sparked introspection, with some commentators calling on Arab government and citizens to do more to help the tsunami victims. Jamal Khashoggi, a media adviser to the Saudi government, expressed frustration with the conspiracy theorists in a column in Kuwait's Al-Watan daily on Tuesday.

"If we can't offer more than we already have, we should at least sympathize with words from the heart, not gloat at their suffering the way some mosque preachers did."

[Darkwolf377]

" Even when America is doing something for Muslims -- in this case, helping mostly Muslim Indonesia and other tsunami-battered nations -- it comes in for criticism in the Middle East..."

And in the Boston Globe, too.

[Johnnyboy2000]

I agree that we don't get a fair deal in the world media, but it doesn't help having Powell and the elder Bush publicly saying that helping the tsunami victims should improve America's image. Maybe they think that way, but the American charities on the ground and the Americans donating money are helping the victims out of kindness. Americans are not helping the victims to get approval from bin Laden and the Ayatollahs.

[Ruth A.]

In other words, Muslins not affected by the tsunami are wary of US aid. They could've stepped up to the plate before us...

[nw_arizona_granny]

Ping

[jaykay]

Fine, let the UN rebuild the whole mess with what the Arabs and Muslims contribute. Good luck with that.

[broadsword]

And the reason I should care what these Scuzlims think is... exactly... WHAT?

[jan in Colorado]

Hey Broadsword, thanks for the ping.

[jazzlite]

When you are somebody..When you have used self-discipline and the work ethic to succeed, when you are born with beauty, brains and talent and you find a way to develop those things in a nation offering the freedom from oppression to do so, and when centuries later, that nation has succeeded beyond nations where murder, oppression and dictatorship was/is the law and the mourning of the people a constant, your success will be hated because it is obvious that your system of government is right and their system is wrong and the terrible price paid in human suffering for the upholding of those heinous dictatorships is way beyond the scope of the human mind to comprehend. Who, among decent humanity, will join in to say that relieving the suffering of the innocent, feeding, caring and attempting to keep safe the little children, and helping those areas rebuild economically so that their people will not starve and perish further, is a bad thing. I say that only those who care nothing about the previous activities would do such a thing. Perhaps they thought they were going to get a "food for oil" kind of perk out of all this..Well, duh?! George Bush is a different kind of leader. Can we all comprehend HONESTY? He doesn't care what the MSM and their supporters say about him..He is focused on those people and their suffering and he will methodically provide what is needed while the lowlife's do their thing..My faith teaches that it is better to have a millstone hung around one's neck and to be cast into the sea than to hurt one of God's little ones. I have to say I am comforted when I think of the eternal fate of those who are sexually using these babies over there to satisfy the lowest kind of lust. If they cannot be stopped in this life, then the next one will take care of it. Linda Vester (FOX) covered this painful story on her show yesterday..

[libs_kma]

I agree. We should help because its the right thing to do. If we get any degree of good will from the Muslims then thats gravy, but I wouldn't expect to see that happen.

After all, look at all the money we've been giving to the UN all these years. That proves right there that you can't pay these scum and expect them to actually like you. They'll just call you stingy and ask for more.

Help the disaster victims, then come back home, and as for the UN, just make them get out of the US. I don't care how many begging, whiny, crying Richard Holbrookes and Bill Richardsons appear on Fox news telling us we need the UN. What we need is for those whiny liberals to shut their mouths.

[Caipirabob]

In other words, Muslins not affected by the tsunami are wary of US aid. They could've stepped up to the plate before us...

Ah...but that's assuming they cared even a little about human life or their fellow man. THEY DON'T!

[freeangel]

"they could've stepped up to the plate"

No they could'nt. Their money is already tied up supporting terrorists that love death and destruction. Why would they want to alleviate what they pay people to do?

[wildwood]

but it doesn't help having Powell and the elder Bush publicly saying that helping the tsunami victims should improve America's image.

it doesn't matter what our representatives say...these people will find ways to criticize, rationalize and denigrate. by all rights, our generosity SHOULD work for our benefit, but when these people condemn even the dead because they made money off tourists--hey, there are no limits to the rationalization and spiritual filth to which these people will descend.

[Bellflower]

You would think that thinking Muslims would start to put things together and see that the terrorist don't care about them either but only there own murderous selves and their wicked murderous agendas.

[Beckwith]

The only contributions I see from muslim states are to the families of suicide bombers and al Qaeda.

[Conspiracy Guy]

The Arabs have really stepped up to the plate with generous offers such as sending over 100 lbs of sand and a 68 Cadillac (not running) to aid their brothers and sisters in the Indian Ocean.

Tell them to shut the - up

[Former Dodger]

I heard that Israel offered to send 100,000 Palestinians to help repopulate...

[murphE]

No good deed goes unpunished.

[ZULU]

True.

Our help to the Mujahadeen in Afghanstan was appreciated by the creation of the Taliban and housing Al Quaida.

Our help in defending Saudi Arabia and Kuwait against Saddam in Persian Gulf I was grudgingly appreciated or appreciated not at all.

All our aid to Egypt has done little or nothing to convince the average Egyptian we are the good guys.


Muslims just don't look at the world the way the rest of humanity views it.

[balk]

Another case of 'darned if you do, darned if you don't'. Imagine the response from the ME if nothing were contributed from the west. Didn't the same happen with Bam, Iran?