Foreign-Driven Reforms Not Welcome, Says BrahimiBe gone, infidels!
DUBAI, 6 December 2006 — There is consensus in the Arab world that foreign-driven reforms are not wanted, Lakhdar Brahimi, former special adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General, told delegates at the Arab Strategy Forum.
“There is consensus in our region that most of our regimes are not performing well. Very serious reform is needed. This concern has reached the governments and they recognize that they need to reform,” Brahimi said at the second day’s plenary session titled “The Future of Arab Regimes: Stagnation and Change?”
The future of Arab regimes? Funny he should ask that, since it is whatever Allan wills it. Is he some kind of heretic or something?
“But there is also consensus that foreign-driven reforms and agenda are not wanted. They do not work and are not welcome,” Brahimi declared to applause from the audience. He also stated that the success or failure of a regime is based not on the length of time it has served, but on what it is seen as having done for the people and the country.
He'd better hope no one at home is listening to any of this ...
Lisa Andersen, dean of School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University, said that public perception of Arab regimes is confused. “Opposition to regimes is sliding into opposition to states, which is a crisis,” she said while referring to the situation in Iraq and Lebanon as a case in point.
Speaking at a session titled “US November Elections: Implications for the World,” Rami G. Khouri, Editor-at-Large, The Daily Star, said that the region is seeing peculiar new alliances like the one between Shiite Iran and Sunni Islamic groups. “We’re finally seeing the full consequences of the end of the global cold war in the region. Now it is a regional cold war.”
A majority of regimes in the region, Khouri pointed out, are “desperately trying to get the protection of the US.” At the same time, political Islamists are gaining mass appeal. “In the last 10 years, every single election held in the region has been won by political Islamists. There is a massive split in public opinion in countries in the Middle East,” he said.
However, the world may have to live with the absence of a counter-balancing global power for a while, said Victor Chu, chairman, First Eastern Investment. “It will take time for China to be a global leader that can restore the balance of power.”
| "Just sign here." "What's that?" "It's our UNSC Democracy, Disability, and Dismemberment Policy." "Uh, how much?" "If you have to ask, you can't afford us." "Maybe we should talk to Tsar Putty, first..." "Okay, okay - 10% off, one-time offer. Take it or leave it." |
Robert Malley, director, Middle East and North Africa Program, International Crisis Group, said that the results of the recent elections were largely determined by foreign policy on Iraq. Though a Democrat-led Congress may not be able to influence foreign policy change, “Iraq is an exception to the rule.”