[Dean's World] Aziz P: a case study in driven agendas

[notify at powerblogs.com]

Posted by Aziz P:
a case study in driven agendas
http://www.deanesmay.com/posts/1151326133.shtml


   Saudi prince Al-Walid bin Talal is not an Islamist. In fact he is one
   of the most modernist members of the Saudi royal family. He has been
   known for spectacular philanthropy, including donations of $40 million
   to Harvard and Georgetown, as well as massive investments in American
   corporate icons like Citigroup, News Corporation Ltd (of Rupert
   Murdoch and FOX News fame), and Apple. He also has a record of
   advocating social and political reform in Saudi society, as summarized
   by [1]his Wikipedia entry:

     Prince Alwaleed bin Talal is not part of the ruling executive
     within the House of Saud, and has generally kept out of politics,
     concentrating on his business interests. However, he has recently
     started to make overt political statements in his press releases
     and interviews. His views can be seen as critical of Saudi
     traditionalism, proposing reforms to elections, women's rights and
     the economy. He has also openly criticized operation of the
     state-owned oil company, Saudi Aramco. He is vocal about women's
     rights and hired the first female airline pilot in Saudi Arabia,
     Hanadi Hindi.

     He has also taken a notable pro-American stance, backed up by his
     $10 million financing of American study programmes at the American
     University in Cairo.

   The bottom line on al-Walid is that he is exactly what America needs:
   an ally with enough credibility back home in Saudi Arabia to have a
   genuine influence on changing the society there. He is a liberalizing
   figure.

   However, a recurring theme amongst Islamophobes is the utter inability
   to recognize reformers within the Arab world as the allies they are in
   the war on terror. Of these, [2]MEMRI is the worst offender,
   selectively cherry-picking information from the vast myriad streams of
   Arab media to support a particular world-view, that Arab society is a
   monolithic anti-Semitic mass of hatred, when in fact any serious
   observer will report that Arab media is in many ways [3]more committed
   to showcasing opposing viewpoints than our own here in the United
   States. As such the Arab media is a massive thorn in the side of the
   tyrannical regimes of the middle east - so much so that you can be
   [4]arrested in Saudi Arabia for even phoning into a talk show.

   So what happens when an ally of the United States such as Prince
   al-Walid decides to invest in a new Arab media station, Al-Rislah? A
   station that the Christian Science Monitor describes as
   "[5]media-savvy, modern, and moderate" :

     According to Al Risala's executives, that media can be both secular
     shows that undermine family values and religious programs that
     foment extremism.

     "Islam has been changed throughout time," says Al Risala's general
     manager, Sheikh Tarek Swidan. "If we go back to the roots then we
     see Islam being very peaceful, very open. Respect of all humans,
     respect of all religions, respect of all races - that is the
     original message of Islam."

     "We are directing the channel to be in clash with ... terrorist
     ideas," adds Mr. Swidan. "We are going head to head." [...] "When
     we speak of Islamic revival, we always focus on political organized
     groups aiming at gaining power," says Mr. Haenni. But just as
     important a phenomenon, he says, are "private religious
     entrepreneurs."

     These entrepreneurs target the upper middle class, and focus on
     personal enlightenment rather than political engagement. They're
     socially conservative and opposed to what they see as the decadence
     of much of Western culture. But they want to benefit from Western
     science, education, and progress, and they condemn violence and
     extremism.

     And, says Haenni, they use "fully all the means of mass culture ...
     chats on the Net, chat shows on TV, Islamic rap in the West. Mass
     culture is not the enemy anymore."

     "It's a more worldly view of Islam," says sociologist Madiha al
     Safty. "They are trying to reconcile modernity with Islam."

   Well, of course such a venture must be characterized as - what else?
   "[6]Hate TV"

     ...Al-Resalah's excessive anti-Western content is somewhat
     astonishing. It is no different from any other hate-filled Saudi TV
     channel. Take, for example, Sheik Ahmad Al-Kubeisi, who appeared on
     Al-Resalah on March 15 and said: "When there is no hope for peace,
     there is no alternative but to resort to the gun. ... The West's
     conflict with Islam and the Muslims is eternal, a preordained
     destiny that cannot be avoided until judgment day."

   It would seem that MEMRI would prefer that Al Risalah go head to head
   with the Islamists by ... not going head to head. The concept of
   debate is lost upon them. But the truth is that the best way to
   utterly delegitimize the Islamist ideology is to put it on display
   next to a rationalist and liberal viewpoint. I wish that MEMRI had as
   much confidence as I that Enlightenment values are superior to those
   of the dark ages.

   There is no better resource for [7]Arab media analysis than Marc
   Lynch, aka Abu Aardvark. The Arab media are our allies and are central
   to transformative societal change in the Middle East. MEMRI and their
   ilk are obstacles to victory in the War on Terror for they would have
   us abandon the allies we so desperately need.

   (props to [8]Praktike for the CSM link. [9]xposted to City of Brass.).

References

   1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alwaleed_bin_Talal
   2. http://abuaardvark.typepad.com/abuaardvark/2006/06/the_fast_and_th.html
   3. http://abuaardvark.typepad.com/abuaardvark/2006/06/mona_and_the_sa.html
   4. http://abuaardvark.typepad.com/abuaardvark/2006/06/talk_to_aljazee.html
   5. http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0502/p01s04-wome.html?s=widep
   6. http://www.nysun.com/pf.php?id=34836
   7. http://abuaardvark.typepad.com/abuaardvark/arab_media/index.html
   8. http://americanfootprints.com/drupal/
   9. http://cityofbrass.blogspot.com/2006/06/case-study-in-agenda-driving.html#comments