An article in the London-based Arabic-language daily newspaper, al-Hayat, purports to dispel what it calls the ?lie? of Moslem and Arab leaders who claimed to fear ?an explosion in the 'Arab and Islamic street,' and that if Arabs and Muslims were to be attacked, regional security and stability would be endangered.? The lie was so successful, reports the columnist, that ?Even their own people began to believe them!?
The extent of the lie threatening an explosion from ?the Arab street? became clear to decision makers, writes the al-Hayat columnist, when ?the Taliban regime collapsed under American bombing - which killed at least 2,000 civilians ? without the 'street' moving a muscle or showing any sorrow? [and] when Sharon, who had intensified his barbarism in Palestine following the [war in] Afghanistan, did not have to deal with any reaction by any 'Arab or Islamic street,' and was not forced to take this 'street' into account.? In fact, the author continues, apparently struck by the irony, ?It will go down in history that the largest protest demonstration against the Israeli massacres was organized by the Israeli 'Peace Now' movement!?
The result, the al-Hayat piece points out, is that ?[t]hese days, the American administration has no interest in addressing Arab or Islamic public opinion.? The American administration has figured out, according to the article, that ?if the regimes can repress popular demonstrations against their own corruption and backwardness, they can use the same means to repress protest against American policy in the region?.. [Washington] will promise aid, or threaten sanctions, and that will be the end of it.?
[With thanks to the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI).]
The extent of the lie threatening an explosion from ?the Arab street? became clear to decision makers, writes the al-Hayat columnist, when ?the Taliban regime collapsed under American bombing - which killed at least 2,000 civilians ? without the 'street' moving a muscle or showing any sorrow? [and] when Sharon, who had intensified his barbarism in Palestine following the [war in] Afghanistan, did not have to deal with any reaction by any 'Arab or Islamic street,' and was not forced to take this 'street' into account.? In fact, the author continues, apparently struck by the irony, ?It will go down in history that the largest protest demonstration against the Israeli massacres was organized by the Israeli 'Peace Now' movement!?
The result, the al-Hayat piece points out, is that ?[t]hese days, the American administration has no interest in addressing Arab or Islamic public opinion.? The American administration has figured out, according to the article, that ?if the regimes can repress popular demonstrations against their own corruption and backwardness, they can use the same means to repress protest against American policy in the region?.. [Washington] will promise aid, or threaten sanctions, and that will be the end of it.?
[With thanks to the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI).]