AJ America and Arab Reformers

Really interesting show running on al Jazeera right now, Ghassan bin Jidu's Open Dialogue.  The topic seems to be (I came in late so didn't see the beginning) the relationship between Arab reformers and American reform promotion. He's got Toujan Faisal (the Jordanian feminist and former Member of Parliament, and a few years ago the target of a pretty nasty politically motivated arrest and four month imprisonment after she accused the prime minister of corruption), Nahla al Shahal (a Lebanese woman who writes for al Hayat), and Ayman Nour (head of Egypt's Hizb al Ghad).  It's a tough and focused discussion, with few of the pyrotechnics you see on, say, Faisal al Qassem's program. 

Ayman Nour and Ghassan bin Jidu

What I like about this show is that bin Jidu is confronting head on a topic which is extremely important but often avoided in public - the "kiss of death" associated with American support for these reformers.   Al Jazeera's host isn't raising the topic in order to undermine or tarnish Ayman Nour and the others - the way that Hosni Mubarak's regime regularly does.  Instead they are bringing the whispering campaign out of the shadows and giving them the chance to respond directly and explain their positions.  This is the kind of honest discussion of the toughest issues surrounding Arab reform which might actually move

None of them are willing to embrace American policy. All seem keenly aware that this would discredit them in Arab eyes (a pragmatic concern), and all seem pretty sincere in expressing their skepticism about American intentions and their anger opposition to American foreign policy.    But none are willing to let this compromise their demands for reform.   We represent a popular demand for reform, Nour says, not an American demand - we represent the movement of the street, the demands of the Egyptian people, he insists forcefully. 

Some are harsher in rejecting American involvement than others, and there are nuances among their positions.  What they all seem to be saying is, in one way or the other, that we (the Arab reformers) reject tyrannical regimes and demand human rights and democracy, and what America wants is its own business.  We, they say, have been fighting for democracy in (Egypt, Jordan, etc) for 15 years, are part of national movements, and insist on contesting those issues on their own merits rather than being judged in relation to the United States.  Some want the US to stay out completely, and are totally opposed to American foreign policy.  Others are more ambivalent, and seem to be saying that if the US wants to help, that would be lovely, even if they have no illusions about American foreign policy. A lot of the conversation (including from the studio guests) keeps revolving around American interest in hegemony, Israel and Palestine get dragged in to it a lot, and - bottom line - pretty much nobody trusts the US at all. 

I like that when guests say that reform must come from within and they reject American involvement, though, bin Jidu is challenging them to explain how exactly they expect to get reform without American support or pressure.  In other words, not being satisfied with the slogans and asking for something more concrete.

Oh, one other thing: including Toujan Faisal was not an accident... they are pointing out, without belaboring it, the fact that the US has said nothing at all publicly about the democratic failings in Jordan, instead supporting the friendly king's anti-democratic approach.  Directly juxtaposing this Jordanian to the Egyptian and Lebanese arenas makes a pretty clear and potent point for Arab viewers, undermining American credibility simply by talking about a case which Washington won't. 

I'll try to come back and say more about it when they publish the transcript in a few days.  Really interesting show though. 

Comments

[praktike]

I had it on in the background and vaguely sensed that it was an interesting show, but could only catch the odd word now and then. Who was the other guy (bald, w/ the Capitol Bldg. in the background?)

[liminal]

Oh great commentary AA. It was such a good show, huh? You don't miss a beat do you? Well, personally, I'm about to hit the wall when it comes to articulating my position without having to curse. And I'm certainly a reform-minded individual. So I'm really happy these concerns were voiced the way they were. And yep, it's true. How can America be trusted? It's so strange, though...I see all sorts of people (even ones that have expressed hatred for America) say that they'll be happy if the US gets involved. So, they essentially want to use the US to get certain dirty work done. I think such a position is deplorable, yet it's getting more common. And it appears as though the Bush administration is willing to selectively oblige without concern for the US taxpayer.

As for the Jordan comments: I'm so glad it came up in this manner. It's getting to the realm of being beyond hypocrisy on the current administration's part. Propping up puppets and being insistent on democracy just won't jive with the arab street any longer.

Two random comments my mother made about Iraq and Egypt earlier today were interesting. She said upon seeing so many people wearing ehgal in Iraq, "I never saw people wearing ehgal when we were living there." And "Nobody in Egypt likes Hosni Mubarak." Simple statements, sure. But my mother never minces words. And they are telling.

[Daniel Makar]

Looks like i really missed a good show, to bad !

Do al Jazeera offer transcripts ??
Where can i find them ?

Thanks for a terrific blog !