Comments on: Dr. Rasheed Nails It

By: Tom Carter

Tom Carter — Sat, 05 Feb 2005 20:05:37 +0000

John, I followed your suggestion and sent a e-mail to Dr. Al-Rasheed, thanking him for his article. Got a very nice answer back from him.

By: Dean's World

Dean's World — Thu, 03 Feb 2005 16:40:50 +0000

Positive Fallout In Arab World
Crossroads Arabia notes that the freedom virus is spreading.

All to the good. All to the good.

By: John

John — Thu, 03 Feb 2005 16:25:37 +0000

Lewy: The article is not unrepresentative of Al-Rasheed’s writing. He’s an astute observer and critic and should be read more often.

I’m not suprised at all by the piece, but pleased that it passed editorial review. Nor do I see it as any sort of attack on the government; rather, it’s an attack on the “conventional wisdom” that reigns in the region.

I hold Juan Cole in deep respect for his work on the Shi’i, much as I respect Chomsky for his work in linguistics. When either dips his toe into politics, though….

[Disclaimer: I hosted Dr. Cole for several days in Bahrain, in the late 80s, while he was doing some research; he was also speaking as part of a USG program. We had interesting discussions about the relative influence of Akbari v. 'Usuli Shi'i in the Gulf States.]

By: Amir

Amir — Thu, 03 Feb 2005 16:14:53 +0000

An excellent piece.

By: John

John — Thu, 03 Feb 2005 15:35:03 +0000

D. Stevens: Arab News is the sister publication of Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat, largest Arabic language paper in the world. Let's see if they pick up his piece; they frequently do.

By: Tom Carter

Tom Carter — Thu, 03 Feb 2005 14:50:11 +0000

John, this is an excellent article. I suspect it represents a broader vein of thought among Arabs than we normally see so clearly expressed. I don’t argue that U.S. actions and decision-making regarding Iraq have been perfect. But if the success of this election is repeated during the coming year, with a new constitution successfully written and another successful election, U.S. action in Iraq will have been a massive success and well worth the sacrifice.

By: Hyscience

Hyscience — Thu, 03 Feb 2005 10:53:54 +0000

A Magnificent Day for Iraq
Place this article from Arab News on your best reads of the day list – as John said in his email this morning, “Coming from a Saudi, running in a Saudi-owned newspaperâ€”which just happens to have the largest circulation in the MEâ€”is pretty importan…

By: lewy14

lewy14 — Thu, 03 Feb 2005 09:54:42 +0000

John,

I’m reasured to some extent that you’re familliar with Dr. Al-Rasheed and his writing, because otherwise I’d simply find this too incredible.

What’s the story with his politics, his connections? Not to put too fine a point on it, but how does he get away with writing something like this? I’ll be happy to concede that the press in the KSA is freer than I’d imagined, but this seems a fairly direct threat to the authority royal family.

Clearly this article surprises you as well – which surpises you more, that he would think it, or get away with writing it?

Finally, how long before Juan Cole speculates that Dr. Al-Rasheed a CIA plant? [Dang. Did I say that? Sheesh. Shame on me.]

By: D. Stevens

D. Stevens — Thu, 03 Feb 2005 07:43:19 +0000

He deserves congratulations.

Wish he were writing in Arabic for a big circulation Saudi paper !

Surely this election, the display of bravery by Iraqis, emphasizes to Saudis, and to Syrians and Egyptians, their lack of a free vote ?

By: John

John — Thu, 03 Feb 2005 05:25:02 +0000

I don’t find Dr. Al-Rasheed “mercurial”. He has strong feelings about some American policies. So do I. I suspect you do as well.

What sets him off is when he sees hypocrisy or double-standards; when the US doesn’t live up to its own standards (in his view). Sometimes I agree with him; often I don’t.

But he’s always an interesting writer and frequently makes me laugh.