THE ARAB “MODERATES” - FEARFUL and PLEADING

They like to call themselves the Arab “Moderates”.

Noam Chomsky has long called them the Arab “client regimes”.

Whatever one calls them, everyone is now agreed, including the “Moderates” themselves, that they are in serious trouble.

The “Moderates” themselves clearly blame their troubles primarily on Israel and the U.S.

They blame Israel for policies that year after year discredit them.

And they blame the U.S. for year after year standing with Israel no matter how badly the Israelis break their promises, keep violating international law, and threaten far and wide.

For many of the “Moderates”…though they fittingly moderate their words and condemnations…President Bush’s outrageously biased and insensitive speech to the Israeli Knesset was a kind of final straw.

In today’s Washington the Arab “Moderates” often work closely with various groups associated with the supposedly “liberal” wing of the multi-faceted Israeli/Jewish lobby.

That’s how one of the leaders of the “Moderate” camp, Marwan Muasher, a few days ago teamed up with the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at Brookings to speak about his new book titled The Arab Center: The Promise of Moderation (Yale University Press, 2008)

Muasher is the former Foreign Minister and deputy Prime Minister of Jordan. He was a champion of Jordan signing a peace treaty with Israel in 1994 and became the first Jordanian Ambassador to Israel at that time.

But these days Muasher is clearly worried. Things have not turned out as was forecast by the “Oslo Peace Process” and the Jordanian Peace Treaty. Much the opposite in fact; the region is in turmoil and Muasher himself admits: “Arab moderates who embrace a future of regional peace and democracy appear to be losing ground in today’s Middle East. They are pushed to the political margins by radicals strengthened by chaos in Iraq and the failure of Arab-Israeli peacemaking, as well as by autocratic elites determined to hold onto power and privilege.”

With this perspective in mind watch this exclusive GfA video for answers from the Arab “Moderates” to these questions:
Is the Middle East “Peace Process” and the “Two-State Solution” Still Alive and Kicking?

What is happening to the “Arab Moderates” who have aligned themselves with both the U.S. and Israel?

What Changes are Needed and what Changes can be Expected from Washington?
While watching realize how much the “Moderates” are now pleading not only for major policy changes from Washington but for more help to ensure their own survival. That also explains why, cornered as they feel they are, Muasher teamed up with both Martin Indyk and Tom Friedman for this presentation to the Washington policy-makers — two American Jews with long and close times to Israel.

Muasher was introduced by Martin Indyk, Director of the Sanban Center. Then Muasher’s remarks were commented and expanded upon by Thomas Friedman, the New York Times columnist.

Muasher by the way has been well-rewarded by the powers that be in Washington, and in the Bush/Cheney Administration.

He has a new job, this time in Washington, as the Senior Vice President of External Affairs at The World Bank. Paul Wolfowitz may have departed, but there are still many with neocon views and approaches at the World Bank and other Washington power centers.

For easy in viewing we’ve broken the video into three approximately half hour parts:

VIDEO #1 - Muasher speaks after being introduced by Indyk followed by short comments from Tom Friedman

VIDEO #2 - Martin Indyk asks questions of both Muasher and Friedman

VIDEO #3 - A few questions fromn the Audience Questions for both Muasher and Friedman.

And as you watch these videos also consider how limited and inadequate is the general discussion in Washington about matters Middle East and “Peace Process” related. We are continuing and in fact expanding our efforts to correct this situation with two upcoming special publications — Citizen Paul Reports on his Trip to the Middle East which will be followed by Plan Palestine and a New Middle East.

July 3, 2008 | Filed Under GFA