Posted on 10/08/2002 4:31:22 PM PDT by RCW2001
By Alan Elsner, National Correspondent WASHINGTON, Oct 8 (Reuters) - A U.S. attack on Iraq would trigger a wave of anti-American anger in the Arab world, which may force governments to adopt repressive measures to retain control, a congressional subcommittee heard on Tuesday. "We must recognize that an American-led war to topple (Iraqi President) Saddam Hussein is bound to deepen anti-American resentment, even if such a war sets the stage for the creation of a reasonably pluralistic and stable government in Iraq," said Daniel Brumberg, a Georgetown University government professor. Brumberg told the House of Representatives subcommittee on national security, veterans affairs and international relations that a U.S.-led attack on Iraq would "trigger violent protests throughout the Arab world" forcing Arab governments to become more autocratic and to choke off what few democratic institutions they have. Pollster John Zogby, presenting the results of a recent public opinion survey in five Arab nations, found little support and great opposition to a U.S. attack against Iraq in all five. Among the several experts who addressed the committee, some suggested anti-American feeling in the Arab world was fueled mainly by Washington's pro-Israeli policies. Zogby said his polling found general admiration among Arabs for U.S. science and technology, U.S. democracy and popular culture and U.S.-made products but fierce opposition to U.S. policy toward the Palestinians. "Americans are not hated. It's only American policy that creates negative feelings among Arabs and Muslims," he said. Although there was agreement that the United States needed to vigorously pursue a peace agreement to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, other witnesses argued that anti-American feeling was generated by government-controlled media and education systems and religious institutions that produced a constant stream of anti-American and anti-Jewish incitement that often crossed the line into outright racism. Ambassador Christopher Ross, State Department coordinator for public diplomacy and a former U.S. ambassador to Syria, said Arab government controlled news media "frequently engages in negative stereotypes, disinformation and outright demonization of the United States and the West ... There are also general views that the United States is immoral, anti-religious and anti-Muslim." University of Maryland Middle East expert Shibley Telhami said that by pressuring allies like Jordan to defy its own public opinion and back an invasion of Iraq, the United States was intensifying a strong sense of Arab humiliation that might fuel further terrorism. Yigal Carmon, president of the Middle East Research Institute which monitors Arab broadcasts, school textbooks and religious speech said, "Much of the hatred of America stems from misinformation, fed to the Arab street by government and non-government institutions." He cited Palestinian school textbooks that taught 10-year-olds admiration for suicide bombers and preached open anti-Semitism. Several speakers noted the explosive population growth taking place in the Arab world, where 60 percent of the population is younger than 20. Of a total population of around 200 million, 65 million Arabs were illiterate. "Young people who are frustrated, bored or angry, and who tend to get their news from satellite TV stations rather than from a responsible, professional press, are particularly vulnerable to the simplistic slogans of Islamic demagogues," said Brumberg. He and others highlighted the role of the cable TV network Al Jazeera which framed the news in a black and white way and often gave air time to extremists. ((Washington newsroom, 202-898-8300, fax 202 898 8383, email Alan.Elsner@reuters.com))
The historical data does not support this contention.
Bin Laden will appear on a tape recorded at an unknown time calling for a jihad. (No, wait... That's already happened.)
BOO HOO
Oh, yeah...Iraq, Iran, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Lybia AREN'T repressive right now? Mr Georgetown professor, would you consider these nations to be bastions of democracy?
What tripe....
"Arab rage."
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Folks in Kuwait who made the close personal acquaintance of the Iraqi Mukhbarat think that America is the cat's pajamas, except that we were WAY too nice to the Iraqis. One reporter asked a Kuwaiti about "The Highway of Death," and was told, "Those men had no pity for anyone else, so don't waste your pity on them."
I dont think we need to attack Iraq to provoke these animals.
Just like our attack on Afghanistan did.
If they can choke them off, are they really democratic?
More "They're gonna hate us!" rhetoric.
Actually this might be a good thing, the more repressive these Arab dictatorships become, the more the people may yearn for freedom. It worked for the Maqui.
I WANT Arabs enraged. I want every single Arab man and woman to be as enraged as all of us were on Sept. 11th. I want us to lay waste to their cities, conquer their bastard dictatorships and covert them to Christianity, as Ann Coulter so ably suggested.
Among the several experts who addressed the committee, some suggested anti-American feeling in the Arab world was fueled mainly by Washington's pro-Israeli policies. Zogby said his polling found general admiration among Arabs for U.S. science and technology, U.S. democracy and popular culture and U.S.-made products but fierce opposition to U.S. policy toward the Palestinians. "Americans are not hated. It's only American policy that creates negative feelings among Arabs and Muslims," he said."
Ok, I know who his brother is, but the Zog has now started polling in Arab countries. And am I to understand that he testified before the congressional committee? Shades of Carville entering into the Israeli election, right here.
The "Arab street" understands one thing: violent and overwhelming force. Supposedly there was going to be an uproar when the US and Britain retaliated on Afghanistan.
Not a friggin' peep out of the "Arab street."
If they don't like us, then fearing us is a good alternative.
Funny how muslims asked themselves that same question when they attacked us.
Those people are nuts! If they are just nuts and don't hurt anybody but themselves, FINE, I'm all for it. But, they are intruding into the civilized world, a world of freedom, liberty, and free markets. They are killing innocents in a perverted religious fanaticism. Now they are mad dogs that need to be put down.
Meet the dog catcher...........America the Beautiful.
Works for me. Next time there's a big terrorist incident in the US, how about we drop a daisy cutter on any Arab celebration of it?
Respect is, I think, the word you were looking for.
... "Americans are not hated. It's only American policy that creates negative feelings among Arabs and Muslims," he said ...They didn't crash civilian aircraft into our twin policies, Zogby.
1.
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Dead children, previously playing in Halabja [March 1988].
7. Have run out of time. ......
These are the atrocities which Zogby and his Arab terrorists want America to suffer.
The Arabic people of Iraq will cheer, while the Arabic people of Jordan will feel humiliated? And at what? That they themselves didn't have the wherewithal to liberate their own Muslim brethren from Saddam's evil grip?
Which would vanish in a flash once they see the tides of victory.
And Americans should give a sh/t what this red diaper baby thinks because.......?
You know, I look at what happened in NJ last week and I'm asking the same question.
True words, and well expressed.
Sadly, "we" have cared since the demise of the Ottoman Empire after WWI, and look at where it's gotten us.
The European nations come closer to you're "don't care" attitude of late. But then perhaps they have more to lose.
Pollster on a mission.
I don't follow what you mean? What question did I ask? I posted a picture and made a statement. Please explain.
The only thing that would probably please bin Laden more would be an invasion by American ground forces. Afghanistan is famous for its unconquerability. The British Empire and the Soviet Union failed in their efforts to dominate the country, and they at least knew the rocky terrain and had people who spoke the languages. American troops in Afghanistan would be even more baffled and beset than they were one-third of a century ago in Vietnam. There is, in addition, the land mine problem. According to Robert Fisk, the Middle Eastern correspondent of the Independent (London), Afghanistan contains one-tenth -- more than 10 million -- of the world's unexploded land mines, laid by the Red Army in 27 of the 29 provinces. Two dozen Afghans are blown up every day. Moreover, by November freezing weather will arrive, and the Pentagon has no hope of dispatching troops and winning the war in the six weeks remaining before winter comes to Afghanistan. Nor could an invading American army count on serious assistance from the internal anti-Taliban resistance, their most effective leader, Ahmed Shah Masood, having been assassinated shortly before the assault on America. Bin Laden, if he is the man, has set a trap for the United States. Indications are that, despite the cries for vengeance, we will not walk into it. It is hard to think of a drastic action taken at once that would not rebound against us. The quest for a knockout blow is an illusion. We still do not even know that bin Laden is the man. The publicly available evidence is persuasive. But it is thus far circumstantial, hardly solid enough to stand up in a court of law. |
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Here's some