America and its relationship with Muslims

Watching the Republican presidential nomination race in America gives us an insight into the acceptability of bigotry against Muslims in many segments of the American society. A number of past and present candidates have expressed views, if said about any group other than Muslims, would have been considered racist and probably ended their chances of being elected. Rick Santorum has said that “absolutely” Muslims should be profiled, Newt Gingrich believes that the Palestinians are an “invented people” and Katherine Bachmann has been accused by Ron Paul (a fourth candidate) of hating Muslims. Of all the candidates running for US president in 2012, including the current president, only Ron Paul has stated views about the Muslim world’s feelings towards America that a significant segment of the Muslim population would hold true. And he, like the truth, is given very little airtime in the US.

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 27^th, 2012.