RSS 2.0 FeedNovember 2011 Volume 38, Featured Articles, Guest Writer
Danin: The dictators' rogue sons
Bashar al-Assad, Gamal Mubarak, and Saif al-Islam share a number of things in common. For starters, all were groomed by their fathers to succeed them in ruling Syria, Egypt, and Libya respectively. Second, all were heralded as reformers, men who would help propel their countries, economically and politically, into the twenty-first century. Third, when protests hit their countries, each of them advocated a ruthless and violent response to the unrest.
In Syria’s case, since Assad was already in power, he has been able to continue the brutal policies of his father. In Egypt’s case, Gamal’s recommendation to forcibly quell unrest did not win over the military, though he now languishes in prison facing charges of inciting police forces and organizing thugs to attack and kill Tahrir Square protesters in late January and early February. In Libya, Saif’s bloody approach earned him an International Criminal Court indictment for crimes against humanity, including murder, bombing, and shooting protesters in February.
Interestingly, each of them lived and either worked or studied in Britain. Bashar moved to London in 1992 and trained there at the Western Eye Hospital. The urbane Gamal worked as an investment banker in Bank of America’s London investment office. And Saif received a doctorate from the London School of Economics (who authored his dissertation is a subject currently under investigation).
Many observers simply assumed that because these three men were not only bilingual but bicultural - mixing easily among Western jetsetters - that they would bring home with them Western values and progressive approaches. If anything, they embodied a sense of superiority and entitlement, not equality among common citizens. Their privileged experiences in the West seem to have bred contempt and condescension for their fellow countrymen. While they may have known which fork to use at a palace dinner, it turns out that they were equally comfortable with the AK-47 and the killing and bloodshed it produces.
This is not an argument against cultural exchange or against the notion that a Western education is harmful to the elites of Arab society. One needs only to look at Bahrain’s crown prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa. The United States and British educated prince clearly tried to employ dialogue and engagement with the opposition after demonstrations erupted in Manama’s Pearl Square.
But Salman lost the internal Bahraini power struggle and was pushed aside by other members of the ruling family who resorted to brutal force and violence to squelch the protests. Nonetheless, he, like the Dalton- and Sandhust- educated King Abdullah of Jordan, is attempting to import reformist principles to their respective kingdoms. In the case of Jordan, whether or not these reforms are sufficient in magnitude and rapid enough in time remain to be seen.
In this period of dramatic change in the Arab world, as we in the United States look to partner with and support genuine democrats, we must beware of automatically gravitating toward people who wear imported clothing or speak Western languages with crisp accents. Some of the most progressive people I’ve met in the Middle East don’t speak English and have never stepped foot outside their own countries. But they embrace liberal, universal values, such as equality of the sexes and equal rights for minorities.
They have come to these positions from within the context of their own cultures and societies. Ultimately, for democracy to triumph in the Middle East, it must be rooted in the region, not outside. The West’s experiences with Bashar al-Assad, Gamal Mubarak, and Saif al-Islam should serve as cautionary tales that appearances can be deceiving; just because one may look like a liberal reformer doesn’t mean that he or she is one. Our most reliable partners are not necessarily going to be the people who sound and look just like us.
More Featured Articles
CAUGHT CHEATING? HOW TO MOVE FORWARD AFTER BEING UNFAITHFUL
We all learn to look out for signs that our man is cheating, or subtle hints that he might be seeing someone else on the side, but what if you are the one that cheated? Assuming that you still want to work on your current relationship, we have 7 ways to move on successfully after you’ve been unfaithful. This is not a “loop-hole” and is not praised, but the reality is 14 percent of married women have had affairs at least once during their married lives and 17 percent of divorces in the United States are caused by infidelity. If you fall into this category, and don’t want to be part of the divorce statistic, take a look at these helpful steps.
Sure signs she's cheating on you
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Bonkers:Kim Jong-il: The cinephile despot
One of the more surprising facts about Kim Jong-il was his love of cinema. He reportedly owned more than 20,000 videos and DVDs and counted Elizabeth Taylor among his favourite actresses.
Obituary: Kim Jong-il
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: Exporting Rough Diamonds, a Major Setback
GOVERNMENT'S plans to continue exporting rough diamonds without processing them locally is depriving thousands of Zimbabweans employment opportunities, a local diamond education college has said.
Zanu PF followers still disillusioned
HARARE - Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe moved to the podium with his trademark blend of languor and briskness — still looking reasonably sprightly for an 87-year-old in reportedly poor health.
“I CAN STILL HAVE SEX,” SAYS MAN WHOSE PENIS WAS BITTEN BY HOOKER
A Gweru man, Brian Shumba (32) who had a chunk of his manhood bitten off during a dispute with a prostitute is now up and about. Shumba was a regular customer and the dispute was over payment for services she had rendered to him.
Millions From Diamonds Go to Mugabe, Observers Say
JOHANNESBURG — Tens of millions of dollars in diamond profits — perhaps more — are being secretly extracted from state-owned mines in eastern Zimbabwe, bypassing the nation’s treasury and raising fears that President Robert Mugabe is amassing wealth to help extend his 31-year reign, according to monitoring groups, diplomats, lawmakers and analysts and reported in he New York Times.
ANC backing Mugabe out of own fear - Analysts
JOHANNESBURG - The ANC’s backing for Zanu-PF in Zimbabwe’s elections next year is a demonstration that former liberation parties that waged guerrilla wars do not want to see other liberation movements losing power, but analysts do not believe there will be an economic meltdown if President Robert Mugabe has another term in office.
Is another cholera epidemic on the way?
HARARE, (IRIN) - Waterborne diseases, such as typhoid, dysentery and watery diarrhoea - all approaching epidemic levels - are creating concerns that conditions exist for a reprise of the 2008/09 cholera epidemic, which killed more than 4,000 people and infected nearly 100,000 others.
Zimbabwe's forgotten children, struggling to survive
Zimbabwe, when I was growing up there, was the breadbasket of Africa and had one of the best education systems in Africa if not the world.
Prepare for bedroom fireworks
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Things fall apart for MDC-N
Several moons ago I observed that it may be time for my fellow academic, Professor Welshman Ncube, to seriously consider engaging Morgan Tsvangirai and his party in order to get the two factions of the original MDC back together before the onset of the next elections.
Zimbabwean woman appointed Air Botswana head
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Kennedy Mavhumashava: Misihairabwi-Mushonga's sex, sexual metaphors unbecoming
What is it with MDC-N secretary-general, Mrs Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga and sex, sexual metaphors and objects?
Replacing Mugabe, a Zanu-PF nightmare By The Africa Report
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The (hard) life and times of Morgan Tsvangirai
LIFE has not been easy for Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai since he took office last year. His decision for the MDC to join government has led to accusations of being co-opted by Zanu-PF and the change that his election campaign in 2008 promised turned out to be a damp squib.
ZANU PF must reform to survive
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Pyrrhic victory for Mugabe - the unwanted presidential candidate
Zanu-PF is stuck with President Robert Mugabe. The party is set to endorse the ailing 87-year-old as its candidate in the elections next year or in 2013 against the will of most of its senior members.
Morgan Tsvangirai's love exploits laid bare
ZIMBABWEAN Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's 12-day marriage has cast the spotlight on his private life - with a list of women with whom he has allegedly had relationships crawling out of the woodwork.
NASA- Uganda takes shape for a launch into space - SERIOUS
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Man ordered to pay wife for lack of sex
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Who wants to be a monkey?
A student has been left feeling a little red-faced after an embarrassing incident with a monkey made her a global star. Charmian Chen, who just happens to be a model, was visiting the Sacred Monkey Forest Ubud in Bali last month when two of the primates decided she was a little overdressed.The 22-year-old student, from Taiwan, was on holiday on the tropical Indonesian island feeding long-tailed macaques when she was singled out.
ANC learnt from Zimbabwe shambles
What we learn from the ANC's simultaneous sacking of Julius Malema and passing the Secrecy Bill is that the ANC has learnt its lesson from the failure of Zimbabwe.
Will Robert Mugabe exit like Gaddafi?
HARARE, Zimbabwe — On his eighth visit to Singapore this year — and those are just the ones we know about — it is inevitable that speculation should swirl around the topic of President Robert Mugabe’s health.
Interview: It's important for Tsvangirai to control his zip as Prime Minister
Question Time looks at the confusion surrounding reports that Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai had married long time girlfriend Locadia Karimatsenga Tembo. Political analyst Pedzisai Ruhanya blames co-Home Affairs Minister Theresa Makone for meddling in Tsvangirai's personal love life. In a hard hitting interview he says Makone should focus on her duties as a minister. Interview broadcast 23 November 2011
'We cure HIV with anointing water': Six die after churches tell sufferers they don't need medicine
At least six people with HIV stopped taking their medication and died after churches claimed God could cure them, an investigation has found.Undercover reporters who posed as worshippers infected with HIV in south London were told that pastors could heal them.The journalists underwent a 'healing process' where they were sprayed in the face with water while a member of the church called for the devil to come out.
New Radio Stations but Same Old Message
Yet another chance to implement critical reforms in Zimbabwe, yet another lost opportunity. And once again it's President Mugabe and his ZANU-PF party who are left smiling - or, in this case, laughing all the way to the recording studios.
