Liberation as Business

Congratulations to Rosa Brooks on exposing the myth about Iraqi “liberation” (Iraqis are Ungrateful, Aren’t they? — April 10). In a joint appearance with British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw in Baghdad’s Green Zone last week, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that Americans “have forces on the ground and have sacrificed here.”

In another sign of the special relationship and standing shoulder to shoulder, Straw said: “The Americans have lost over 2,000 people (in Iraq). We’ve lost over 100. ... And billions — billions — of United States dollars, hundreds of millions of British pounds have come into this country.” Let us ignore the utter callousness of the Anglo-American leaders toward the thousands of Iraqis being killed in the war and the resulting lawlessness and the total destruction of a nation as a result of the war. Even though Mr. Straw said “We have a right to say that we’ve got to be able to deal with Mr. A or Mr. B or Mr. C. We can’t deal with Mr. Nobody,” what he and his American counterpart were saying was this: We need ample returns on our investment. Shocking? In a way, but not as shocking as the statement of Paul Wolfowitz, the architect of the war, about the costs of the Iraq war.

Wolfowitz, then US deputy secretary of defense, said before the war that Iraqis should be asked to refund all the costs of the war for their liberation. Obviously the costs should include the money spent on tons and tons of bombs dropped on Iraq killing hundreds of civilians.

Syed Mirza, Riyadh published 13 April 2006

What Ails Muslims

Khaled Almaeena is absolutely right (April 10). Muslims suffer from an identity crisis. This, as he rightly points out, is mainly due to “indifference, intolerance, extremism, obscurantism and a growing habit of blaming others for our ills.” The problem of the identity crisis is not difficult to deal with and things would certainly change for good if only Muslims would make themselves accountable for their deeds. Most Muslims are dependent and have no will to compete. Even the capable ones live under apprehensions and suffer from inferiority complexes. What eats up all their resources? Jealousy, infighting, unnecessary criticism. Rationality, logical thinking and patience are strange words to most Muslims. They prefer to be led like herds rather than lead. The result is crystal clear. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was indeed the leader whose life is a role model for every one.

N.A. Mirza, Jeddah published 13 April 2006

US and Iran

Reports are coming in of US President George Bust mulling military options to knock out Iran’s nuclear program. This could be dangerous and would have far-reaching consequences. All this talk about Iran’s nuclear program is a pretext to overthrow a legitimately elected regime for reasons best known to everyone. Such provocative and unnecessary threats to Third World countries while remaining indifferent to Israeli designs will only multiply the woes of a world already reeling with poverty, unemployment, violence, terrorism and mistrust.

Imtiyaz Khan, Bombay published 13 April 2006

Misperceptions

Lubna Hussain’s article “There Are Misperceptions on Both Sides” (April 7) is amusing because it’s a conversation between an American woman and a Saudi woman. Had the same conversation taken place between an American woman and a Saudi man, and similar conclusions drawn, I would have been impressed.

Marvin C. Cruzan, United States published 13 April 2006

Misperceptions [2]

Americans see the wanton violence in the Middle East every day on TV and in the newspapers. While Saudi Arabia may be relatively peaceful, there is no outrage in your news media at what we see as outrageous. Any affront to Muslims in the West is seen as outrageous by Arabs. Isn’t this double standard? Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, etc need to cooperate. Are you helping in this vital need? We don’t think so. Is this impression wrong?

John Jamison, United States published 13 April 2006

Misperceptions [3]

Let me quote from Lubna Hussain’s article: “I think that my people really don’t realize how important Saudi Arabia is as a country,” she continued. “The fact that most of our oil and energy comes from here doesn’t even occur to them. The fact that so many people in the world look to this country as their spiritual guide really doesn’t register with the folks back home. It’s only when you point this out to people that they actually begin to see it for what it is.” While I generally enjoy the articles by Lubna Hussain I find it strange that this bright, successful American businesswoman stated, “The fact that most of our oil and energy comes from here...” That statement is not even near the truth. And apparently the author made no effort to correct that grand misperception. May I suggest five minutes of research on the Internet?

Tony Byron, UK, published 13 April 2006

N-Free Mideast

This refers to your front-page report (April 7) about the call by the Kingdom and Japan for a nuclear-free Middle East. This is a very mature proposal and should be acceptable to every one including the State of Israel.

Mir Tabassum Mairaj, Jeddah published 13 April 2006

Darfur

This is regarding “Why the West Shouldn’t Send Troops to Darfur” (Paul Moorcraft, April 7). For once I agree with something appearing in the Arab News. We should not send troops to Darfur and the rest of the Sudanese cesspool. We should do exactly what the US did in 1919 in Anatolia and Armenia — stay home and let the natives fight it out to the bloody end. But, of course, I think we should arm the side that we want to win.

Rick Calhoun, UK published 13 April 2006

Girls in Abayas

I am a convert Muslim living in the UK who wears the full hijab and covers her face. Still I find it quite disturbing that some Saudi parents feel the need to “cover up” their daughters at such an early age. I think by doing so they themselves are sexualizing children, by implying they should be covered to hide them away from men’s view. Children should indeed be children, and while we should encourage our daughters to dress modestly our religion does not require them to wear any form of hijab until they reach puberty. Surely Allah knows better than we do.

Natalia Basso, UK published 13 April 2006

Girls in Abayas [2]

A friend who worked in Saudi Arabia told me that even some little girls do appear in public in abayas. I don’t know whether they do it on their own, or because of peer pressure or pressure from parents. In any case who is defending the rights of females to have the freedom to wear anything they desire? Some people say society expects women to hide behind abayas so the men won’t misbehave by looking at them. Can’t male society follow social guidelines regarding appropriate behavior toward all people, male or female?

Gayle Betzing, United States published 13 April 2006