Perspective on "despair" of Arab world

[Abcdxxxx]

Oh please. Let's put this into context....

Aboulmagd refers to the war as "deranged" actions by "a weak person who wants to show toughness". No mention is made condeming Saddam for victims of torture including mock executions, acid baths, sexual abuse, electric shock, ceiling suspension, eye gouging, piercing of hands with electric drills, non-judicial beheadings, gassing, mass executions. No mention of the 3-4 million Iraqis exiled under Saddam, or another 400,000 evicted from their homes. Where is the acountability on the part of the Arab League who refused to stand up to Saddam?

Aboulmagd is one of the "best known intellectuals" in Egypt, a nation without free speech. As a man with strong views on Democracy, and a constitutional lawyer, I'd love to see him stick to his opinions of Mubarak instead...perhaps start with the excution of homosexuals in your own backyard, and then work your way up to foriegn policy?

Oh, and what of Egypts tolerance towards terrorism and it's role in festering the situation? Mubarak has publicly admitted out loud what a lot of Arab and Muslim leaders believe - that Islamic terror, including suicide bombing, is a justified means of venting their sense of injustice towards the non-Muslim world. Seems that Aboulmagd just echos these sentiments discreetly, and so do a lot of others.

His perception that Bush is acting in part of a Christian crusade is especially enlightening when one considers that Egypt was once mainly Christian. These Christians (mainly Coptic Chrisitans) now make up a number as small as 6% of the population, and still face the threat of persecution.

His comments on 9/11 are also especially loaded in light that Bin Laden's right hand man assasinated Sadat, who Aboulmagd worked under. Sadat's murder was an inside job, so showing sympathies or weakness to Al Qaeda idealogy is a bit odd. It should also be noted that Sadat wasn't some Martin Luther King figure of the Middle East at all. Sadat was ruthless. The reason his attitude towards the west is now so celebrated was because he changed his tune over time, and agreed to sit down and negotiate. He was strong willed and yet he was able to comprimise and recognize the error of his ways. Not with "the west" but with Israel. To use the Sadat legacy to show credibility for his opinions is also a bit odd. It's like bragging about your peaceful attitude about race relations in America because you were associated with Malcolm X. It doesn't guarantee a mindset of peace, love and harmony at all. Sadat waged several wars against Israel partially based on race issues. Most Sadat associates were not doves at all.

Egyptian leaders have always taken a hypocritical stance against Israel, condemning them publicly while vacationing there the next week. Egypt recieves the second highest amount of aid money from the US, second to Israel, and they do the least of any country for it.

If Israel has a "green light" to do what it pleases, then why is it that every incursion into conquered territory comes with a public condemnation of their defensive actions. When Israel went into Jenin they were scolded...yet it's that very mission that the US has based portions of their current maneuvers on. The suggestion that the United States has entered this war to appease Zionist interests is an unfortunately bigoted frame of mind. Antisemetism is commonplace around Egypt... doesn't sound like this "intellectual" is doing much to squealch that with statements like these.

The article suggest that the Arab "elite" known for "preaching moderation" and "embracing liberalism" are giving up hope... that Bush is alienating the people who will support acceptance most... well I'd suggest that the "elite" have long turned the other cheek, and the "Islamic radicalism" that's become prevelant didn't happen just under their noses without them turning a blind eye...now they're looking to find a scapegoat...to say "oh if Bush wasn't so unreasonable, oh if America didn't go to war, but now it's a lost cause, even I can't rationalize these actions". Suuuure. How is this attitude any different then that of many Arab and Muslim rulers? Let's take Mubarak for instance... he continously calls for help fighting terrorism, warning the world of it's dangers, and then supports and harbors these same organizations in the next breath out of fear for his own safety. It's hypocrtical...but sure, it's that fuckhead Bush's fault.