It is interesting to watch some of the recent Republican candidate debates where perhaps, the defining event in recent US/Muslim relations, the horrific 9/11 terrorist attacks, is discussed. Ron Paul states (to jeering and booing audiences) that contrary to the beliefs of the large majority of the US population, the US did not get attacked because it is a free country. Why didn’t the terrorists target Switzerland or Sweden for example, which are even freer than the US? To attack a country thousands of miles away, simply because there are greater personal freedoms and a more democratic domestic system, makes little sense and has no precedent in history — yet this is the simple belief that most Americans cling to. In the words of Rudolf Guliani (the mayor of New York at the time of 9/11) that “They hate us because we are free”. And if a Muslim wants to discuss the motives behind the attacks, well that puts him or her in the terrorist sympathiser camp.
To many Muslims, the most surprising aspect of 9/11 is not that a major terrorist attack on US soil took place, but that it took so long to happen. Muslims believe that the US got attacked largely as a direct result of a long history of flawed foreign policy, which over a period of decades has created much anger and resentment in the Muslim world. Examples include; hundreds of thousands dead in Iraq as a result of oppressive sanctions prior to 9/11, US bias towards Israel in what most Muslims see as the brutal oppression of an entire population under a military occupation and siege, and several US military bases in Muslim countries including in the holy land of Saudi Arabia. Also, the US has supported or installed many deeply unpopular regimes in Muslim countries. Most Americans do not know or understand this.
Witness the Arab spring. Who supported and happily dealt with the despotic Hosni Mubarak of Egypt and showered him with aid? Ben Ali of Tunisia? And Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen? Yes, all these were hugely unpopular, dictatorial and corrupt — and backed by America. Most Muslims also resent that the US props up the most powerful and possibly the least democratic regimes in the Muslim world — Saudi Arabia, home to large US military bases (and, of course, the world’s largest oil producer). And yet, the large majority of the 9/11 attackers were Saudis. Many Muslims wonder what pressure the House of Saud is under to hold free and fair elections, in line with purported American democratic values. Ron Paul makes an analogy — how would Americans like it if the Chinese were present on their soil, with military bases, and influencing who is running their country. That is what many Muslim countries are faced with, including, of course, Pakistan.
Overall, the truth about America’s behaviour and foreign policy is kept well-hidden from the American population. The very few prominent figures such as Ron Paul who speak the truth are not given much airtime and are often ridiculed. Unless the truth comes out and is debated within the US, misadventures will continue, and our part of the world will continue to be a victim. In the meanwhile, Pakistan should steer clear of dealing with the US military machine.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 27th, 2012.
COMMENTS (48)
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@Ayesha H K: "The key issue here is that while America believes in freedom and equality for its own people, it does not promote these values in the rest of the world." The inference is that the rest of the world admires and wants those values. Please, tell us why isn't rest of the world then adopting those values for itself? For America, you are dead if you do and you are equally dead if you don't. If America were to go about promoting those values, you would be equally resentful and blame it for imposing a hegemony on you. Besides, not every people are fit for "freedom and equality". Overwhelming majority of Muslims worldwide are pining for "khilafah" which is diametrically opposite to "freedom and equality". @Genius: "The USA today is a land populated by the good, bad and the ugly" And, all Muslim lands are populated by beautiful and very beautiful people who dazzle the rest of the world. Only a genius can have such an insight.
@Falcon: to John B "If we were to agree on the basic premise that universe is inherently neutral, ..." But, it is not neutral!
Seriously? A Pakistani complaining about the religious tolerance level of the American society? Is there any sense of shame left at all? A grotesque display of hypocrisy.
@Ali Tanoli:
"two churchs and we protect them from any harm from any one and there are many christian brothers lives with us…"
I am laughing as I read this, because I was also reading in Dawn, an article titled "Muslims and Minorities".
I would like to quote from it:" IMAGINE the following scenario: a complex housing a mosque, a madressah, a girls` school and a home for the elderly being run by a Muslim charity is broken into at dawn and bulldozed by officials. No notice is served, and no documents challenging ownership are produced. Yet, within hours, the buildings are reduced to rubble, residents are made homeless, and copies of religious texts destroyed. Supervising this operation is the top local bureaucrat who pays no heed to the protests of the ulema in charge of the complex. Think of the outcry across the entire Muslim world. Demonstrations outside the embassies of the country that allowed this injustice to happen would have broken out instantly.
But when the Punjab government recently carried out a similar operation against Gosha-i-Aman, a Christian charity in Lahore, everybody in and out of Pakistan stood by silently."
http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/28/muslims-and-minorities.html
Now, care to rephrase your assertion?
@Bruite Force, U question and then answer too if dictotor does some thing wrong for there intrest its not ok but if Democratic do wrong thing for there intrest its ok ?? and second thing its not that simple what u think for the moment go in the deep >?? and buidling churches in pakistan there is no problem in my neighburhood in karachi there are two churchs and we protect them from any harm from any one and there are many christian brothers lives with us...
@SalSal:
When you run around and scream "death to America" and that is the policy position of your nation guess what - bad things happen to do you. How would you feel if Americans or Indians or any other nation had as their policy "death to PAK" and each day the streets were filled with fanticts.
@Ali Tanoli:
Democracy within its own Country, US talks about, so does India. But, why should US take the talk of Democracy seriously when its largest Oil Exporter is Saudi Arabia?
Yes, US has waged Iraq war for the wrong reasons with the objective of installing Democracy and getting rid of a Dictator. But, is it the only one? What about Pakistan supporting the mujahideens against an authoritarian and evil Soviet Union, when all it did was to extend unlimited control over Afghanistan? That puts Pakistan and the US in the same bracket. Both waged wars to extend power and to gain. That backfired, but that's a completely different question.
All the Democratic Countries like US, EU, India talk about Democracy, because they are proud of it. They might use it as an excuse to achieve their objectieves, but that is better than non-Democracies waging war and making the world unsafe by exploiting ideological matters.
So, this talk about US, can easily be applied to Pakistan as well.
Just answer this simple question. How many Muslims have died in the US due to ideological violence? At least tell me how many have been injured, forget dying.
Now, answer the same question, but for Pakistan. How many have died in Pakistan, killed by their own Muslim mates for Islam? Why did the guys who brutally shot the Pakistani soldiers in that video which came out few days ago, shouting "Allah Ho Akbar"? Why did Mumtaz Qadri shoot Taseer? All in the name of Islam.
Muslims should be grateful that despite the Terror attacks on the US and other US targets all over the World, America still offers a safe, progressive place for them. A person who kills a Muslim is treated as harshly as any other killer. Mosques have sprung up in the US, how many Churches have sprung up in Pakistan?
The problem lies with the Muslim World, not America.
@U.S centcom I gues its a unjustice in palestine what u think.
@Bruite Force Other countries dont talk about democratic values like america do so that the reason..
China supports Dictators in North Korea and Pakistan, India does it in Myanmar, Pakistan does it in Afghanistan, Russia does it in Iran. But, when the USA does it people cant stand it!
Pak Centcom bhai
The US acts in its own perceived self interest, first and foremost, and in favor of what it considers are the 'good things for mankind', secondarily. This is not very different from the way Pakistan acts, or most other countries of the earth do.
What that means is that other countries would often like or dislike any one country's foreign policies at any time. The polices of Nixon-Kissinger duo were horrid and unforgivable for the interests and people of some countries while they brought a veritable bonanza for others. The same with Reagan's policies. When you ally too closely with a powerful actor, you stand to both gain or lose at times.
Dear Shah:
The terrorists responsible for the attacks on 9/11 were using Afghanistan as a base from which to conduct their terrorist activities around the world. The savagery of the assault on our homeland left us with no choice but to go after those responsible for murdering thousands of innocent Americans. Let’s not forget that the WOT made all of us aware of the threat that was prevalent throughout the region. Pakistan began to see an influx of terrorist activities, and the nature of those attacks proved that the threat had been living beneath the surface and waiting to explode. It was a common wish of both nations to see the region free and clear of terrorism. Our differences and the failure to see eye-to-eye on certain matters are clear proof that the nation of Pakistan operates independently, and all the rumors suggesting otherwise are built upon conspiracy theories. At the end of the day, it’s our common vision that binds us together and helps us overcome obstacles and challenges. Those who accuse the U.S of discrimination against Muslims should remember that the U.S constitution grants all of its citizens freedom of religion. We have many Muslims serving in the military, and we have Muslim allies and partner nations fighting terrorism alongside us.
@Vasanth pai U are right brother.
@AllahOnMySide
I hope you are not serious.But just in case you are, God help us.
@singh sahab $ for oil and that also deposited in american banks and some expired wheat for show busniss and allways refused to do free trade agreement???
Vasanth Pai, Allah gave us the freedom to like whom we like and dislike whom we dislike. What is your problem? We never hate the people. We always hate the rulers.
@Vasanth Pai U said it,
"you can't have it both ways"
Why not? With Allah on our side, we can have it every which way we like. We have rights given to directly from up high.
If that be so why does the bastion of Islam Saudi Arabia invest so much petrodollars in USA? Saudis are the natural allies of US. They are not interested in helping the Palestinians they hate Iran more than US. The Islamic world is fragmented politically, economically and only united in a flimsy way by religion. Till the lot of the common people in the Islamic world does not improve, all this tirade singling out US as the cause of all the problems of muslim countries is sheer escapism. Recognise the real causes, address them. Even the jasmine revolution has not succeeded in Egypt. Something more drastic is needed to overturn the corrupt establishments and bring in real people's raj. That should be the aim rather than blaming US. Cosying up to China is not the solution either. They are a ruthless, godless country and are only exploiting the situation as they have a vested interest in destabilising South Asia which is a potential threat to their hegemony in this part of the world.
@Ayesha H K:
This is not the key issue.. you can't have both the ways..
The key issue here is that while America believes in freedom and equality for its own people, it does not promote these values in the rest of the world. Its this hypocracy that is the at the root of resentment against the USA. Yes, we should take responsibility for ourselves as Muslims in our own countries, but the US also needs to realise that this short term self-centered view of the world has damaged its standing in the world, and caused the death of hundreds of its own troops(and hundreds of thousands of innocent Muslims) in unecessary wars. Sadly, the USA has now turned its attention on Iran, all in the name of Israel; we can only expect more hypocracy, more wars, and more money to be made by the military industrial complex.
Instead of focusing why muslim hate america lets focus on why muslims hate every non muslim nation? Muslim(of perticular variety) hate Russia, UK, Sweden, Germany, France, Spain, Switzerland, India, China and what not. Many of the countries I have listed already have had terror attacks sponsored by islamic groups. For rest you can only say people are wondering why it took so long?
Also supporting dictator is a lame cause. International comunity will always talk to who is in power, they all talk to Hu Jintao isn't it? does it mean chinese should hate others?
Request author to write on "Pakistan and its relations with Ahmedis, Shias, Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists & Atheists"
I do not understand this...If the USA is so "bad" for Muslimz, then how come 86% of them would GLADLY migrate to the very same place they hate? (according to the UN Human development research in the Middle East report 2002)...And lets not forget PAKISTANIS arw thw Number One on the List from the South Asian countries. Even today, almost all of the Politicians children are studying in the USA and most will NEVER return to Pakistan. (Check these facts before blaming the USA or the West)
Excellent !! Finally something about politics one can digest. Unlike what passes in this country as political commentary. Well Done!
Probably Pakistan is the only country in the world which is destroying itself in the name of religion.
The headline should be: Muslims and their relations with USA and other non Muslim world. It is quite convenient to place the blame on "others". Muslims - If we are so united, should look at how their insular, self righteousness and paranoid views are seen by non Muslims. These are the people that we discriminate against openly and seek to either kill or convert. And the silly thing is if they are so deviant why do we want to emigrate to their lands. Oh yes, to claim discrimination and create more strife.
@John B: Disagree with you as well as the author. If we were to agree on the basic premise that universe is inherently neutral, then both Muslims and US have contributed to the mess. We have acted like a cry baby blaming every one else in the world for our problems and US has acted as an exploitative global bully specially in the post-world war II era. The result is in front of us. Unless both take time to introspect, Muslims will continue to repeat the mistakes they have made for last 5-6 centuries and US will continue to descend down the self-afflicted power driven chaos similar to the fate of other super-powers before it; and both of these will be nothing short of a tragedy.
Do you really believe that America got attacked ? Sir with all due respect Iraq and Afghanistan got attacked and Saudi Arab got attacked financially after 9/11 and if 9/11 had not happened there was nothing Americans could have done to justify this .......they desperately needed an excuse and CIA provided them, dot
Why just America? Muslims don't make friends anywhere. Because the first thing they do is try to convert you. Because they want every freedom democracies gives without giving up the medieval tribal Arab customs. e.g. 90% of Egyptian women are mutated, a local tribal custom. And you why. Besides nearly all Muslims have a self inflected victim complex, why? Because at the back of their minds they know that they have lost the race, other religions have forged ahead. And therefore they cling to old ideas. e.g. only one Muslim got a Nobel prize for science and look how he was treated in his own country. Other countries may not even know him.
Excellent article....well researched and well written!
Unfortunately that's a common belief in the Muslim World - the same as it's common knowledge by Muslims that America attacked itself on 911 as part of some great conspiracy against Muslims -- both beliefs are based on ignorance/bias and ignore actual evidence to the contrary. OBL made it clear after 911 that the attack against America was in retaliation for the infidels putting a military base on holy land in Saudi Arabia - had nothing to do with Israel or the Palestinians. Somehow it didn't matter that the military base was placed in Saudi at the request of the Saudi leaders - nor did it matter that the American's had just defended the Saudi's from an invasion from it's Muslim neighbor Iraq. What mattered was that infidels had soiled the soil of Saudi Arabia.
Salman, an excellent and very important article. More power to your pen sir. Please ignore the moronic commentators who parrot necon rubbish and have chosen to criticise your article.
@John B. You gave an example of Iran. You know what's the condition of Iran? It didn't let America dictate to them about what policies they should follow. Iran didn't listen to the U.S. See what punishment Iranians are getting? That's exactly the reason why Muslims hate America. They know that if we don't listen to Uncle Sam, he will hate us, force others go hate us & make our life miserable.
Secondly, great article. America is plotting it's own downfall. American public are just misguided. I hate American govt. Not the people tho. But try expecting the same from someone who has his/her family murdered by U.S bombings. You will not like what you will get to hear. Specially these U.S loving liberals.
What is preventing the Muslim countries from getting rid of US military bases from their soil? The fact is most of them are ruled by corrupt, authoritarian and opportunistic leadership including the military. This includes, sadly Pakistan also. If it was not for American support, none of these rulers will be able to stay in power. Why blame the US? And are you trying to justify 9/11? Shame on you.
This article is a perfect example of the failure of higher institutions in the Western World.
It's Michelle Bachmann, btw.
Salman Sahib, shallow, populist and lacking factual integrity that is how I describe your article. Citizenry of Pakistan have been whipped in a fit of frenzy with death to America mantra, a little toning down is needed not this narrow minded jingoism. A little intellectual honesty is need of the hour, tell the people how US president forced European colonialist to dismantle their empire, helped Egypt in the Suez crises, Bosnian Muslims against Serb and Croat Christians brothers, Albanians and most importantly a nation born with nothing in 1947 was given food to feed it's people, arms to defend it's borders and trade opportunity to grow, that country is Pakistan. I have no problem in criticizing America for its faults which are many but come with the turf of being the sole super power. The way many in Pakistan criticize US for everything wrong under the sun sounds like a ungrateful, bitter nation. We are better than that.
@John B, Writer did mentions the reason too when he said backing the dictators so how u gonna finish the ruthless dictators??
"To many Muslims, the most surprising aspect of 9/11 is not that a major terrorist attack on US soil took place, but that it took so long to happen"
Exactly why Americans are concerned of the modern day Jihadis. If ever any one has a claim to attack US first, it should be the Japanese or the Vietnamese or Russians.
If the Muslims(from Indonesia to Middle east even though the PAK and Indonesia have nothing in common with the middle east) of S. Arabia, Yemen, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Turkey Syria, Lebanon,and Pakistan feel that the flawed US foreign policy is the cause of their ills, they should show their discontent towards their puppet regimes and ruthless monarchs, rather than against the US.
The fact of the matter is the modern day islamic ideology and the religious bigotry towards non muslims and US support to Israel and the inherent conflict between Israel and Palestine collectively unite the Muslim Jihadis in the name of religious brotherhood and people subscribe to this twisted notion of holy land occupied by infidel troops. The author is no exception. After all , in America also there was an educated psychiatrist who served in military turned into an assassin after subscribing to this ideology.
All countries' foreign policies are self centered and countries work together in collective interests. If the Muslim countries have issue with the US force in middle east, let them take it to the King of S. Arabia.
What does the author preach next, the foreign policy of PAK neighbor India is flawed, so PAK should stay away?
People in America don't hate Muslims. They hate Jihadis and people who advocate such philosophy. All presidential candidates are politicians who cater to their own constituency, and Ron Paul is no different than Mishael (not Katherine) Bachman.
If the countries don't like the US foreign policy they have an open forum to criticize in UN as Iran does and unlike the author's portrayal, all dissident leaders are given a chance to articulate their positions in respected US media and college campuses.
There is no problem in author advocating that PAK should rescind its tie with US. But the reason of Muslim vs US is deplorable.
Kindly make a correction on line 8: It's Michelle Bachmann, and she is no longer a candidate.
@ Salman sahab u think american peoples dont know whats going on i dont think so read the patriotic act...
America dont like muslims but love to get oil 2: america back there intrest with unpopuler rulers of muslim countries 3: american election can not be completed untill runer say he is christian and will protect israel untill rebirth of jesus (A,S) Americans and muslims relationship is like Gieco in the mouth...
america gives much more freedom and respect to muslims as compared to what we give to non-muslims in our own country.our ppl when migrate to work in the arab countries are treated like second class citizens,are given no rights whereas those migrating to europe or america get the nationalities of those countries.in middle east they have trouble getting the ownership of any property.we won't let any synagogue be built in our country but the americans have allowed the construction of thousands of mosques.it's very easy to sit and criticise other countries without taking a look at ourselves.there's a lot of things wrong with american foreign policy but the freedom they accord to everyone in their country is exemplary.