For a long time, many have poured scorn on the administration's claims that anti-Americanism is being fueled because 'they' [loosely defined] "hate our freedoms." This article from The Christian Science Monitor notes the latest party to trash this assertion: an advisory board to none other than the War Secretary himself.
The paper cited a report by the War Department's Defense Science board which wrote:
Muslims do not hate our freedom, but rather they hate our policies [the report says]. The overwhelming majority voice their objections to what they see as one-sided support in favor of Israel and against Palestinian rights, and the long-standing, even increasing, support for what Muslims collectively see as tyrannies, most notably Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Pakistan and the Gulf states. Thus, when American public diplomacy talks about bringing democracy to Islamic societies, this is seen as no more than self-serving hypocrisy.
That was the War Department's advisory board speaking, not Amnesty International.
MSNBC further noted:
``The dramatic narrative since 9/11 has essentially borne out the entire radical Islamist bill of particulars” against the United States, the report said. “American actions and the flow of events have elevated the authority of the Jihadi insurgents and tended to ratify their legitimacy among Muslims.''
Many have criticized the administration for claiming to spread democracy while cozying up to oppressive Arab regimes like Saudi Arabia and Egypt; these criticisms have typically been dismissed as naive and unrealistic by hardliners (or as a fuzzy, bleeding heart diversion).
Yet the Defense Science Board, which includes the chairmen of the Army, Navy and Air Force, added: It is noteworthy that opinion is (strongest) against America in precisely those places ruled by what Muslims call ‘apostates’ and tyrants — the tyrants we support. This should give us pause.
Indeed.
1 comment:
The report is a step in the right direction but I think it trades one set of easy answers (that were completely wrong) for another set of easy answers. There is one aspect of the relationship between the US and the Middle East which we have a hard time talking about because it can be a mine field, but here it goes: faith.
I cannot tell you how many times I was stopped on the streets of N'Djamena and asked the question, "Why do Americans hate Islam?" We'd usually sit down over tea to talk and they would want to know one thing before I said anything, "Are you a believer?" Not in Islam, but in any religion, did I believe in God? Time and again I would site with people from all over North Africa and the Middle East and they said "Yes, we disagree with American policies, but we also don't understand why you hate us and our religion." They were perplexed by the entire concept of atheism and how people could not believe and they saw that as the root of the elements of American culture that they did not like.
I don't have any solutions here, but I think that somehow there needs to be discussion about faith, religion and tolerance. We can't be seen by the average person on the street as "hating" their religion, or any religion for that matter.
Still, it is good to see that some good analysis is finally percolating up the chain of command.
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