There is a message in this bottle for America: For too many years we've treated the Arab world as just a big dumb gas station, and as long as the top leader kept the oil flowing, or was nice to Israel, we didn't really care what was happening to the women and children out back — where bad governance, rising unemployment and a stifled intellectual life were killing the Arab future.
It's time to stop kidding ourselves. Getting rid of the Osamas, Saddams and Arafats is necessary to change this situation, but it's hardly sufficient. We also need to roll up our sleeves and help the Arabs address all the problems out back. The bad news is that they've dug themselves a mighty deep hole there. The good news, as this report shows, is that we have liberal Arab partners for change. It's time we teamed up with them, and not just with the bums who got them into this mess.
How exactly we are supposed to "team" up with these "liberal Arabs" is not explained. If Thomas Friedman actually knew, I'm sure he would share.
So Friedman endorses American support for the Iraqi National Congress? I dobut it. TF talks big, but I can't see him committing to anything much... and yet, he's changed his stance dramatically since 9/11, so who can predict?
<< Home