Barack of Arabia
West Asia is a region united by faith and religion. While this substance of unity (read faith) is constantly eroding in West Asia, the initiative by the new US president in a way seems a welcome move. However, this move will also be a likely cause of extreme polarization in West Asia of the self proclaimed faithful on one side and proponents of democracy on other side. History has shown this is an explosive combination!It is for time to tell the turn of events that will follow.....
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US President Barack Obama on Thursday sought “a new beginning” for America’s relations with West Asia. He made an earnest attempt to reach out to a region where the US is much reviled. But we wonder if this earnestness will be reciprocated.
In a land that has seen little pluralism or political liberty, that might not be easy. The region’s autocracies and petro-dictatorships have fuelled instability, only furthering prejudice and hatred. As long as that remains, Muslim West Asia’s relation with anyone will be hard to alter.
Like clockwork, Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei condemned Obama’s speech, saying that “words, speech and slogan” would not change “the ugly, detested and rough” face of the US. The likes of Osama bin Laden aren’t going to be appeased either.
US President Barack Obama on Thursday sought “a new beginning” for America’s relations with West Asia. He made an earnest attempt to reach out to a region where the US is much reviled. But we wonder if this earnestness will be reciprocated.
In a land that has seen little pluralism or political liberty, that might not be easy. The region’s autocracies and petro-dictatorships have fuelled instability, only furthering prejudice and hatred. As long as that remains, Muslim West Asia’s relation with anyone will be hard to alter.
Like clockwork, Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei condemned Obama’s speech, saying that “words, speech and slogan” would not change “the ugly, detested and rough” face of the US. The likes of Osama bin Laden aren’t going to be appeased either.
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