World Discussion without US Media or Bush Admin- Instead Clinton & Clark

[FrenchieCat]

The rich but frustrating debate on Arab reform
By Rami G. Khouri
Daily Star staff
Thursday, December 16, 2004
http://tinyurl.com/66qz6

Analysis

DUBAI: The three-day Arab Strategy Forum that brought to Dubai dozens of the finest minds in the Arab world, the USA, Europe and Asia this week to help chart the Arab region's route to modernity and prosperity was extraordinary in every respect. It was extraordinarily rich in analyzing the difficult condition of the Arab world, and in identifying the required policy changes to move toward a better future. And it was also extraordinarily rich in frustration - because the obvious consensus on what this region needs to do to move to a stable and wealthy future for all its citizens was matched by a more formidable scratching of heads over why reform policies have not been significantly adopted in any Arab country.

During the three days of high quality panel discussions and plenary speeches, mostly by well respected Arab and American leaders in politics, business and academia, the unstoppable force of economic and political reform met the irresistible barrier of entrenched Arab vested interests. Consequently, most of the three days were spent offering and discussing a veritable jamboree of lists - good, relevant lists that warrant the attention of anyone who cares deeply about, or is just fascinated by, the angst and aspirations of Arab societies.

The host, U.A.E. Defense Minister and Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid,kicked off the event with the shortest but most striking list of the forum, the two options before Arab leaders: either the leaders change their policies and deal with their people more justly, or the leaders will be changed. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton then followed with his six-point list of what countries need to do to succeed - and the floodgates of list-making were opened.

*The Forum heard several lists of the many security threats plaguing the Arab world, from knowledgeable people such as former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Wesley Clark, Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani, Syrian Expatriates Minister Buthaina Shaaban, and International Atomic Energy Agency director Mohammed al-Baradei. The threats included terrorism, corruption, stagnation, Israel, the U.S., Iran, global irrelevance, and a few others.

More....article is long...

[UL_Approved]

1. Oh, man

The U.S. and Israel got in the list of major world threats. Imagine that...

[FrenchieCat]

2. Yep....

Guess it has been determined that they are definitely a threat.....

Sad, but oh....so true!

Maybe that's why U.S. media unablers didn't have the courage to report that this meeting was even going on. With Osama re-emerging today....you'd think that is would have least gotten into the NYT!

Oh, wouldn't want a "shadow" government overshadowing this incompetent chump-chimp admin!

[clyrc]

3. I live very near Dubai

and I wish I could have gone to this forum. I saw it advertised in Dubai and I knew it would be interesting. I've been in the UAE about a year and a half, and this is the third time I know of that Clinton has been in town.