Comments on: My Op-Ed in the New York Times today

By: Carlinhos

Carlinhos — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:51:28 +0000

First, Ahmed, your friend Carlos is impressed you write in the New York Times!

Secondly, It was very brave in its content and finished with very poetic and meaningful words.

Felicidades!

By: voice of reason

voice of reason — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:17:58 +0000

ahmad and co, guys waiting for the royal folks to implement any sort of change or promote democracy, have you ever asked yourselves this question:

WHY WOULD THEY DO THAT?

coz, painful as it may sound, it is not in their interest to promote democracy etc, as it never has been in the interest of an absolute monarchy to promote democracy. expecting them to do so is painfully naive

look up ‘french revolution’on wikipedia. thats how democracy came alive. it wasnt the king announcing it. ever

By: Pipe Dream

Pipe Dream — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 22:02:36 +0000

You were published in the Zionist NY Times. Good job. Democracy promotion? No, autocrats will do. Arabs are of no use to Americans. Don’t you understand that? Just ask AIPAC.

By: Don Cox

Don Cox — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:26:44 +0000

“He must signal to them his intention to change the longstanding policy of turning a blind eye to the undemocratic practices of America’s Arab allies.”

“I know there has been controversy about the promotion of democracy in recent years, and much of this controversy is connected to the war in Iraq. So let me be clear: no system of government can or should be imposed upon one nation by any other.”

Looks like Obama disagrees with you.

By: Don Cox

Don Cox — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:12:57 +0000

“What on earth do people in the Arab world want from the US?”

Some want one thing, some another, some want nothing. Why do you expect every Arab to have the same opinions?

By: Andrew

Andrew — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 10:06:56 +0000

Congratulations are certainly due.

I hope that this focuses attention attention on this issue concerning our nation.

By: Doug

Doug — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 10:05:37 +0000

While I commend you on presenting to the US an image of Saudis far removed from the one of popular imagination and bigotry, I can’t help but ask one question.

The biggest bridge the US has to face in the Middle East is overcoming the idea that it interferes and meddles in Arab affairs. In the West we constantly hear from the Arab world how the US should not have invaded Iraq to topple its leadership, how the US should leave Iran alone, how the US should get out the Israel-Palestinian issue in order for it to be resolved properly, how the US shouldn’t be attacking terrorist elements in Syria.

But here you are, asking the US to get more involved and to in effect help topple unpleasant regimes!

What on earth do people in the Arab world want from the US? Do you want to the US to help get rid of totalitarian theocracies (and then you complain about American interference) or do you want the US to let you solve your own problems (and then you can complain about Americans not helping you)?

It is only when this question has been satisfactorily answered by the Arab world that the US can begin to build meaningful bridges between the two cultures. In the meantime, we’ll just be left with the unhappy status quo where to the average person in the Middle East, the US is always and forever the big problem.

By: Rafid Fatani

Rafid Fatani — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 20:12:33 +0000

Epic! ;) Well done…

By: SusieOfArabia

SusieOfArabia — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:36:22 +0000

The Times couldn’t have chosen a better representative to write for them – well written, concise, great ending. Well done.

By: susanne430

susanne430 — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:30:29 +0000

I will be eager to read your impressions of Obama’s visit and speeches.