For many years now — since before 9/11 — I have been running a series that might be characterized as follows: “How can the Arab world ever hope to reform when its best and brightest believe
this? Or when its best and brightest peddle
that?”
I’m afraid I have another item in this long-running series. Abdallah al-Ashal isn’t your typical rabble-rouser kook. He was deputy foreign minister of Egypt. He is currently professor of international law and political science at the American University in Cairo. On March 19, he said this on television: “I claim that since the events of 9/11, which were created by Sharon and Bush — the two of them shared a secret. This secret caused the U.S. . . .” Etc.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
ADVERTISEMENT
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
For more, please go to MEMRITV.org:
here.
How does the Arab world have a chance when its former deputy foreign ministers and professors believe this — or are peddling this? What chance does the man on the street have, if his superiors are talking this way? What chance has the fruit vendor or garbageman?
This can all get terribly discouraging (and I am one to write fairly positive reports from the Middle East — perceiving and welcoming glimmers).
I remember something that David Pryce-Jones told me, after my first visit to Egypt, some years ago. He said, “Yes, another wonderful people, betrayed by its intellectuals.” Truer, sadder words were never spoken.
By the way, MEMRI continues to do its job, or one of them. Before, people such as Abdallah al-Ashal spread their poison throughout the Arab world, without the West’s knowing anything about it. Because of MEMRI, now we do. As I said in
this piece — published in 2002 — you may not want to hear what MEMRI is exposing. But you have no excuse for ignorance.
I meant to say something in my
Impromptus last Thursday, but forgot — that happens. Shortly before Obama’s big speech on race, but after the text had been released, I was looking at “The Hotline.” This is
National Journal’s daily tip sheet on politics. And the front page said, “Unlike Romney, who mentioned ‘Mormon’ just once, Obama says ‘race’ over 10x’s and even discusses slavery.”
So, they’re still hawking this line about Romney and his religion speech. I loved what he said to some reporter who interviewed him after that speech. This lady — the reporter — said,
What were you doing, mentioning “Mormon” only once? Were you ducking or something? And Romney responded coolly — again, I am paraphrasing —
Actually, we don’t call ourselves Mormons. I just threw that one reference in there for the likes of you.
