Overwhelmingly criticized in the Arab world during his most recent and final trip to the Middle East as U.S. leader, President Bush does appear to have at least some supporters in the Gulf Arab states.
According to Dr. Ahmad Al Baghdadi who writes for Al Ittihad of the United Arab Emirates, President Bush may have put off Arab leaders with his talk of democracy and freedom, but his words were spot on. Al Baghdadi writes:
“During the U.S. president’s speech, when he discussed how much injustice exists in the Arab world due to unopposed heads of state and the large number of imprisoned opposition figures, the Egyptian president walked out of the hall. …
Political reality in the Arab World undeniably proves that what the American president said is the “eye of truth.” Indeed, the Arab reality is plain to see and it would be fruitless to try and cover up its failings. Can anyone deny that there are regimes in the Arab World that are oppressive – and which refuse to treat those of other religions fairly and political opponents justly? … but the truth always hurts.”
In another rather eye-opening comment, Al Baghdadi writes:
“It pains the heart to see that Israel is the only Middle East country where there is a true political opposition, where political opponents and their families are safe and where it is eligible to have a constitutionally-guaranteed presence in parliament.”
Dr. Ahmad Al Baghdadi
Translated By Nicolas Dagher
May 28, 2008
United Arab Emirates – Al-Ittihad – Original Article (Arabic)
According to press reports, at the economic summit recently held at Sharm El Sheikh during the U.S. president’s speech, when he discussed how much injustice exists in the Arab world due to unopposed heads of state and the large number of imprisoned opposition figures, the Egyptian president walked out of the hall. Bush’s comments were not received well by the Egyptian president, who reacted this way despite the fact he’s the leader of the host country. According to press reports, the Egyptian president justified his behavior by saying that he wanted to show his opposition to the American president’s speech because he considered it interference in Egypt’s domestic affairs.
As usual, Egypt’s government newspaper rushed to defend the position of the Egyptian president and reject the speech of President Bush, while those very same newspapers failed even to mention that the conference coincided with an official corruption investigation into Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert!! [In other words – Israeli leaders are not above the law]. But there can be no disagreement about the fact that the American President said a just word in the face of regimes which wouldn’t hesitate for a moment to oppress their opponents and put them in jail without a fair trial … but the truth always hurts.
Political reality in the Arab World undeniably proves that what the American president said is the “eye of truth.” Indeed, the Arab reality is plain to see and it would be fruitless to try and cover up its failings. Can anyone deny that there are regimes in the Arab World that are oppressive – and which refuse to treat those of other religions fairly and political opponents justly?
READ ON AT WORLDMEETS.US, along with continuing translated Arabic coverage of how the people in the Middle East view our nation.
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