The Bush administration's tone-deaf approach to the Middle East reflects a dangerous misreading of the nature and sources of Arab public opinion. Independent, transnational media outlets have transformed the region, and the administration needs to engage the new Arab public sphere that has emerged.
Submitted by Platon R. (May. 7, 2009) on June 7, 2009 - 1:10am.
How can you have a dialogue with the other side when the US and Israel and some complicity from the EU have destroyed the legitmacy of those (the modreates with whom you can have a dialogue)When you've made them look like fools and lackeys in the eyes of their country it is is unlikely that any dialogue with say Mahmoud Abbas. will yield anything...
On the contrary, we have legitmized the more extreme elements (Hamas).
Submitted by David J. (May. 30, 2009) on June 7, 2009 - 6:16am.
This is obviously a dated piece of work, but it does make the point that the US should be engaging the Arab media and thus the people with the facts however distasteful or unpopular. Bashing Israel will only work so much and then leave all wondering what is going on. Highlighting human rights abuse of all, ourselves, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and yes, Saudi Arabia. Its own heretic acts of rewriting the Koran should be public knowledge as well as whom they support. Make ignorance obsolete in this part of the world and you will see change. The media will play an important part, even if we ignore it. But we only hurt ourselves, (US) by ignoring a legitimate means to reach this audience.
The Bush administration may dismiss the relevance of soft power, but it does so at great peril. Success in the war on terrorism depends on Washington's capacity to persuade others without force, and that capacity is in dangerous decline.
Washington has abandoned diplomacy in favor of military power. In Statecraft, Dennis Ross urges U.S. officials to resurrect the United States' peacemaking tradition and restore its international reputation.
Washington's repeated attempts to bring peace to Somalia with state-building initiatives have failed, even backfired. It should renounce political intervention and encourage local development without trying to improve governance.
Comments
Thanks, you are so
Thanks, you are so eficcient!
Dialogue with Arabs
How can you have a dialogue with the other side when the US and Israel and some complicity from the EU have destroyed the legitmacy of those (the modreates with whom you can have a dialogue)When you've made them look like fools and lackeys in the eyes of their country it is is unlikely that any dialogue with say Mahmoud Abbas. will yield anything...
On the contrary, we have legitmized the more extreme elements (Hamas).
Dialogue with arabs by the use of media
This is obviously a dated piece of work, but it does make the point that the US should be engaging the Arab media and thus the people with the facts however distasteful or unpopular. Bashing Israel will only work so much and then leave all wondering what is going on. Highlighting human rights abuse of all, ourselves, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and yes, Saudi Arabia. Its own heretic acts of rewriting the Koran should be public knowledge as well as whom they support. Make ignorance obsolete in this part of the world and you will see change. The media will play an important part, even if we ignore it. But we only hurt ourselves, (US) by ignoring a legitimate means to reach this audience.