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"Truth and Facts Must Prevail"
The Honorable Edward Walker, Jr., president of the Middle East
Institute, spoke at a special breakfast briefing on October 25 at the
Cairo Marriott on the process of rebuilding that will be needed
following the attacks on the United States and the subsequent strikes
against Afghanistan.
The former ambassador to Egypt and Israel, now head of a policy
think-tank in Washington, began his speech with a reminder than the
casualties in the World Trade Center attack included citizens of more
than 80 countries, and that Arabs and Muslims were among them. "Osama
bin Laden, Al Qaida and those that harbor them struck out at the whole
world on September 11," Walker said.
Since any civilized society condemns cold-blooded murder, the whole
world must unite in the war against terror. But in that that war, guns
and bullets would be "hopefully the smallest part, and the
shortest lived," he stressed. "Our objective must be to
bring the active combat phase to a prompt end and to begin the process
of rebuilding."
Efforts to put together a new political coalition in Afghanistan
and deliveries of humanitarian aid – of which the United States is
the largest donor – represent the beginnings of the rebuilding
process. "Rebuilding Afghanistan is as much a part of the war on
terrorism as is the military action or intelligence-sharing that must
take place," Walker noted.
He pointed out that "the human cost" of the September 11
attacks was felt not only in the United States, but throughout the
Middle East, where businesses and economies are suffering badly.
"I have heard form a number of government officials and businesspeople about the depressed state of the tourism sector during the
all-important winter season, the downturn in port calls by major
shipping companies, the increase in insurance rates and the drying up
of foreign investment," he said.
Helping countries like Egypt get their economies "back to
normal" would be another crucial element in the rebuilding
process, he added.
Walker then turned to the various lines of thinking in foreign-policy circles in Washington, primarily the debate over unilateralism
versus multilateralism. "There are those who would seek to force
other countries to do our bidding through threats of military action
or economic sanction," he said. "The problem with this
theory of international relations is that it won’t work."
But open debate is a necessary, and admirable, feature of politics
on Capitol Hill, and the views expressed do not always represent the
policy being followed. Consequently, Walker advised, "it is
important for the Egyptian people, and particularly the press, to
exhibit some sophistication and knowledge of our political
system." For example, senators John McCain and Joseph Lieberman,
who have recently criticized Egypt as an insufficiently active
coalition partner, "are not the president."
While "our democracy has many voices," the range of views
in the U.S. press can be compared to that in the Egyptian press,
according to Walker. "The Egyptian press raises quite a racket at
times," he said. "And trust me, Washington hears you."
The American people have learned from the September 11 attacks that
they are not immune to the effects of external events, Walker
continued. "Now for the first time, the American people are
engaged," he said. "They are badly informed, but they are
ready to listen and learn."
Walker urged his listeners not to be overly suspicious of
statements from U.S. sources regarding Middle East policy. "I am
not suggesting that anyone should take governmental pronouncements at
face value," he said. "But if this is a good rule for our
country, why not for bin Laden or Saddam Hussein."
Walker cited the Palestinian problem as an example of how, in both
the United States and in Arab countries, "stereotypes can drive
policy."
However, as the countries of the world reflect on the events of
September 11 and work together to fight terrorism, there is an
opportunity to build a world in which religious and ethnic differences
distinguish people without dividing them, and to achieve a
comprehensive peace in the Middle East. "A new day really has
dawned, and it is one that has the potential to shake the resolve of
the Osama bin Ladens of the world," Walker said. "But first
we have to learn the truth about one another and learn how to talk to
one another."
Walker noted how his barber, a resident of a small town near his
home in the United States, had been impressed by a recent TV appearance by Jordan’s
Queen Rania. "In one hour, he said, the queen "entered
millions of American homes and challenged many Americans to reexamine
their attitudes towards Islam."
The media in Egypt, as well as in the United States, must continue
to promote mutual understanding. "Truth and facts cannot only
win this battle against cold-blooded murderers," he said, "but
can also bring us closer together in the long run."
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