|
Americas hard cash and soft words fail to woo Arabs |
|
|
|
The Telegraph
By Patrick Bishop in Cairo
(Filed: 25/03/2005)
In the Arab world money can't buy you love, Washington learnt long ago. Each year America gives more than ?1 billion to Egypt and each year its standing in the country sinks ever lower.
Now it is discovering that gentle persuasion is equally ineffective. Egypt is one of the main targets of a soft-edged diplomatic offensive now underway aimed at persuading the region of the Bush administration's good will.
But, despite sharing Washington's ambitions to democratise the country, most Egyptians still see the US as a predatory and cynical force.
The main reasons are America's invasion of Iraq, its support for Israel and perceived hypocrisy in punishing some repressive regimes while rewarding others.
American influence has become a burning issue in Egypt since President Mubarak last month declared his intention to amend the constitution to allow more than one candidate to contest the presidential election.
The announcement was welcomed by reformers. But the near universality of anti-Bush sentiment compels them to distance their struggle from America.
''I want to make it absolutely clear that this demonstration has nothing to do with support for America," said Wael Khalil, at a rally this week in Cairo to denounce the occupation of Iraq and demand reforms.
The campaigners straddle the political spectrum from Nasserists to Islamists but come together under the banner of the Egyptian Movement for Change, whose simple slogan is "Kifaya" (Enough).
Its co-ordinator, George Ishak, admitted that it would be political poison to have any contact with American officials. "George Bush didn't invent democracy and he's not the reason we demonstrate," he said.
Since the Sept 11 attacks, America has placed a new emphasis on public diplomacy that seeks to speak to ordinary citizens. A television station, al-Hurra, has tried to counter the anti-US line of the al-Jazeera news network and a radio station, al Sawa, broadcasts to the region.
A magazine, Hi, aimed at teens and 20-somethings in the Middle East and European cities with large Arab populations has also been launched but has so far failed to make an impression.
American officials are philosophical about the slow start. "It's not going to solve the problems of the world or make Arabs quit hating us but it's a useful part of a co-ordinated strategy," said one.
What would have a real impact, he said, is a cast of American diplomats who were capable of putting their case over on Middle Eastern news and talk shows. |
Events Calendar