September 6, 2013
The Daily Star
The assassination attempt against the Egyptian Interior Minister Thursday was a cowardly attempt to destabilize the government, but it is symbolic of the political isolation felt by opposition members, and must not be ignored by the country’s leaders....
Americans and The West witnessed the taking and stigmatizing of "The Baath Party" after the USA invaded Iraq. It is that reality this Lebanon editorial discusses and points to as a bad strategy to bring security to a nation of people, not just 'specific people.'
... In post-Saddam Iraq, the new order was only too quick to crack down on the Baath party, disbanding the army and imprisoning party members. This approach, led more by a sense of vengeance than any pragmatic decision-making, has led to years of bloodletting and indiscriminate violence, rendering the streets of Baghdad, the sidewalk cafes and bakeries, all killing fields. This year alone, thousands have died.
It is not an uncommon strategy to 'display' or 'stigmatize' or 'make example of' aspects of personhood and/or persons themselves to bring about the idea of compliance without confrontation. All Baath members were to be considered the enemy within Iraq. It is that stigmatized human being the editorial addresses and seeks to remove same. It is hoping Egypt realizes it may be causing its own problems.
After 150,000 had been killed in the Lebanese Civil War, a different response was pursued, and a general amnesty called. Yes, targeted violence has flared in recent years, but the postwar years were largely calm. This might not be the right answer for Egypt, but debate must be allowed, on even ground, so that individuals and parties can begin to see beyond their differences....
This is the Middle East. Countries are not divided by oceans. The nations are smaller both in population and geography. The dynamics are completely different. The West's culture doesn't work in the Middle East. The rules are different. This is one of them.
The Daily Star
The assassination attempt against the Egyptian Interior Minister Thursday was a cowardly attempt to destabilize the government, but it is symbolic of the political isolation felt by opposition members, and must not be ignored by the country’s leaders....
Americans and The West witnessed the taking and stigmatizing of "The Baath Party" after the USA invaded Iraq. It is that reality this Lebanon editorial discusses and points to as a bad strategy to bring security to a nation of people, not just 'specific people.'
... In post-Saddam Iraq, the new order was only too quick to crack down on the Baath party, disbanding the army and imprisoning party members. This approach, led more by a sense of vengeance than any pragmatic decision-making, has led to years of bloodletting and indiscriminate violence, rendering the streets of Baghdad, the sidewalk cafes and bakeries, all killing fields. This year alone, thousands have died.
It is not an uncommon strategy to 'display' or 'stigmatize' or 'make example of' aspects of personhood and/or persons themselves to bring about the idea of compliance without confrontation. All Baath members were to be considered the enemy within Iraq. It is that stigmatized human being the editorial addresses and seeks to remove same. It is hoping Egypt realizes it may be causing its own problems.
After 150,000 had been killed in the Lebanese Civil War, a different response was pursued, and a general amnesty called. Yes, targeted violence has flared in recent years, but the postwar years were largely calm. This might not be the right answer for Egypt, but debate must be allowed, on even ground, so that individuals and parties can begin to see beyond their differences....
This is the Middle East. Countries are not divided by oceans. The nations are smaller both in population and geography. The dynamics are completely different. The West's culture doesn't work in the Middle East. The rules are different. This is one of them.
