Quick Notes
Ari Berman has two observations (among others) that are worth noting:
** As US ally Saudi Arabia voted in its first municipal elections in forty years, one reformist candidate had a wild scheme to reduce the country's dependence on foreign labor--let women drive. Due to death threats and rampant complaints, Suleiman Abdullah Omar Al-Suleiman marketed his policy in the parlance of traffic jams rather than women's rights. 'The women-driving issue is making people nuts,' he says. Al-Suleiman's platform contains a number of other radical initiatives, including opening movie theaters and after-school programs. Al-Suleiman's candidacy, however, may be limited by one central fact: women were banned from voting in the elections. Is this what Bush means by 'hopeful reform?'
** When US Senator Russ Feingold got off the plane in Bamako, Mali, he was dazzled by the sight of thousands of Malians, including throngs of children, seemingly cheering his arrival. Then came Feingold's moment of zen. The crowds weren't waiting for him, but rather for the arrival of Iranian President Mohammed Khatami, whose plane had just landed at the airport. In the poverty-ravaged Muslim democracy, Feingold learned, Iran offers energy and agricultural assistance, Saudi Arabia builds radical Islamic schools and mosques, and China contributes roads and loans. American diplomats, on the other hand, 'struggle to find the resources to compete for hearts and minds.' They'd better find it soon."
US Loosing the Race to Engage Muslims
The Daily Outrage
** As US ally Saudi Arabia voted in its first municipal elections in forty years, one reformist candidate had a wild scheme to reduce the country's dependence on foreign labor--let women drive. Due to death threats and rampant complaints, Suleiman Abdullah Omar Al-Suleiman marketed his policy in the parlance of traffic jams rather than women's rights. 'The women-driving issue is making people nuts,' he says. Al-Suleiman's platform contains a number of other radical initiatives, including opening movie theaters and after-school programs. Al-Suleiman's candidacy, however, may be limited by one central fact: women were banned from voting in the elections. Is this what Bush means by 'hopeful reform?'
** When US Senator Russ Feingold got off the plane in Bamako, Mali, he was dazzled by the sight of thousands of Malians, including throngs of children, seemingly cheering his arrival. Then came Feingold's moment of zen. The crowds weren't waiting for him, but rather for the arrival of Iranian President Mohammed Khatami, whose plane had just landed at the airport. In the poverty-ravaged Muslim democracy, Feingold learned, Iran offers energy and agricultural assistance, Saudi Arabia builds radical Islamic schools and mosques, and China contributes roads and loans. American diplomats, on the other hand, 'struggle to find the resources to compete for hearts and minds.' They'd better find it soon."
US Loosing the Race to Engage Muslims
The Daily Outrage
posted by NBT at 15:24
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