No Clash of Civilizations at U.S. Islamic World Forum

Dateline Doha Qatar

I am attending the U.S. - Islamic World Forum sponsored by the Brookings Institution's Saban Center and the Govt. of Qatar. If the sentiments expressed at this year's conference are any guide, Americans can perhaps be reassured that the once feared "clash of civilizations" between the U.S. and the Islamic world has not taken root in the Middle East. No doubt there remains tremendous disappointment with Bush administration Mid East foreign policy throughout this volatile region. Nevertheless, there is palpable desire among conferees to cooperate, communicate, and explore new policy changes to fix the gulf that has clearly divided America and other Muslim states since 9/11. That was certainly not the spirit that I found at the conference (now in its fifth year) a few years ago.

Presidential politics was front and center on the 2nd day of the U.S.-Islamic World Forum. Joe Klein of TIME magazine hosted a roundtable composed of prominent Muslim leaders from Palestine, Egypt and Indonesia to discuss what the Muslim world hopes from America in the next administration. In a tribute to how much the U.S. campaign has penetrated the hearts and minds of Muslims, there was an impressive display of unanimity among the panel. In an echo heard from home, the words "change" and "hope" were used often by the speakers to describe what they most wanted from the next president. The U.S. presidential campaign is very much a front page story in all of the Arab media that I have seen and read during my trip throughout the Gulf states, illustrative of how much the Arab world is focused on its twists and turns. Of course, it was no surprise that the Indonesian rep favored the candidate that had attended public school in Jakarta (hint, he is the current junior senator from IL).

In a further impressive display of how far collective Muslim sentiments have changed toward the U.S., the keynote speakers agreed that the next American president will have a new window of opportunity to reverse perceptions and attitudes that have brought America's standing in the Muslim world to new and dangerous lows.

Representing the Muslim world, Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad Al Thani, and Turkey's Foreign Minister Ali Babacan all recommended that the next American president focus on the fight against Al Qaeda and avoid inflaming Islamic sentiments that actually reject Bin Ladenism and which could be enlisted in the struggle against extremism. Karzai urged the gathering to remind the American public that terrorism incited by Al Qaeda and the Taliban has taken far more innocent Muslim lives throughout Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Arab World in 2007 than the American people have endured since 2001. and that Muslim states have come up short combatting the threat of extremism in their midst.

U.S. keynote speakers included former SecState Albright and current UN Ambassador Zalmay Khalizad. Both urged their Muslim audience to help the next American president, whoever that may be, to help prevent Pakistan from becoming a failed state and preventing its nuclear weapons from falling into the wrong hands and to take a more assertive role in solving the Arab-israeli conflict. Much to the surprise of American attendees, there was nary a call for an immediate U.S. withdrawal from Iraq. Muslim world speakers (other than the one Indonesian) favor an eventual withdrawal of U.S. troops, but not a precipitous withdrawal that would leave Iraq in chaos and in the hands of extremists.

Task forces on security, culture, human development have brought together panels of experts from the U.S. and the entire Muslim world to plan new initiatives. There was even an Iranian hip-hop artist in attendance.

Conferences such as these are essential bridges to rebuild renewed trust and confidence between the U.S. and Muslim nations. It is reassuring that the resentment and anger that hallmarked past years seems to have given way to a far more open and receptive Muslim audience with perhaps unduly high expectations of what the next U.S. president can do to help solve this region's problems. It is a testament to so much hope and expectation that attendess yearn for a president who can actually make a positive difference in the Muslim world.

Memo to the next president: from Morocco to Indonesia, if we (and they) don't blow the opportunity, there is a chance to make the "long war" a far shorter war.

Comments

[yappnmutt]

the fact of the matter is it doesn't matter what they think. it only matters what americans think and bush has been pounding the table with the clash of civilization theme for anlmost 7 years now. he has convinced a dangerous number of americans that this is true. even with the re election of bush the world has been remarkably forgiving of the US and its people. will they forgive us once again when they realize a democrat isn't gonna make a difference.

[MagisterLudi]

My suggestion of some important steps to be taken in order to reduce tension between Islamic world and the rest of the planet.

1. End Iraqi occupation. BUT it must achieved smoothly and contribute towards some semblance of order in Iraq.

2. Dedicate major economic and military resources to pacification of Afghanistan.

3. Insist that Muslim leaders cease the non-ending mass propaganda against the West. They must be lead to understand the counterproductive nature of such hysteria for THEIR OWN survival.

4. Gently rein in the mullahs.
The mosques are THE major conduit for money, recruit and disinformation that enables the Muslim militants to have a global reach.

5. Encourage Muslim leaders to stop building palaces and houses on Riviera and invest in building secular schools, trade colleges and infrastructure.

6. Restrict Muslim immigration to Europe and U.S.
Just like Mexican immigration to US, this allows the leaders to get reduce demographic pressure and get rid of the discontented and angry thereby delaying important internal debate and reform.

This would be a good start.

[JimReed]

We can no longer maintain moral superiority and claim we are out to help Muslim nations. We can't control what they do in their country and if we try we are perpetuating the problem. We need to disengage, have some faith in Islam that they will do what is right and live as good neighbors to us if we are good neighbors to them. They will not send armies to conquer us. They will not stop shipping oil. In another time, perhaps America could have tried to be an example to show others how to live, but not now.

[JimReed]

Peace with Muslim nations would be welcome as long as these people understand, Iraq is our cow and our plan is to start milking it. We would also like to use it to start breeding a herd.

[jdm58]

Interesting that none of the participants were supporting an immediate withdrawal from Iraq. With so much at stake, and so many lives in the balance, it will be interesting to see what the next President, (assuming Clinton or Obama) will do. Disappoint their constituents at home and continue the occupation, risking more American lives and draining the economy? Or disappoint our MiddleEastern Allies, who, as you point out, are also on the receiving end of Al Qaeda sponsored terrorism, especially Afghanistan and Pakistan. Markedly absent from the discussion above, is any mention of a resolution of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. It would seem that any hope of peace would begin here. Moving toward a resolution of the Palestinian conflict would also help to quiet tensions in the region with Iran, and diffuse AlQaeda supported militancy, since this conflict has been Amadinejad and BinLaden's main call to arms against the West.

[Macready]

agree with you jdm58 about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict . . . unless that is solved there will be no peace in the Middle East .. . I too wonder at its omission from the report .. . yes, all the world is watching and waiting to see who the next prez will be . .. that gives the US a small window . .. .for all ours sakes I hope it is Obama!

[MagisterLudi]

The way to peace in Israel/Palestine can only be established when ALL Muslim countries and Israel sit down and negotiate in good faith.

The basic nature of this conflict is inability of Muslim to accept existence of Non-Muslim country in the Middle East.
That is why so many Arab Muslims attacked Jews in 1948. Thereby, initiating Palestinian refuge crisis.
This intolerance is the root of the conflict is. This is where the resolution must start.

Iran became an enemy of the West NOT because of Israel. Al Qaeda aims have nothing to do with Israel Hussein's Iraq didn't attack Israel during Desert Storm because of Palestinians.

The conflict goes a lot deeper than that. What we have is nothing short of conflict of civilizations. It's the ideological conflict that hopefully can be resolved by those willing to negotiated and suppression of those who are not.

[oldpotsmuggler]

Irrespective of what some confused folks might believe, there is absolutely nothing surprising about your description. Of course there is going to be an opportunity for our next administration to show that it has learned from the plentiful mistakes of the current one. The Muslim world can no more shut out the western world than we can shut them out. Forget the past. We're all too interdependent now.

So, here's where the real challenge lies. The need for all countries to offer, and all people to enjoy both strong personal freedom and some flavor of democracy is not negotiable. This requirement also extends to women, and that seems to be where things get sticky in the Muslim world. Or at least one of the places.

It's clearly not going to happen tomorrow, but it needs to be a topic of open discussion. We can't force people to vote the way we want, and we can't use our military to create the kind of freedom that includes freedom from fear of death. But we sure as hell can start to talk a good line, and we need a President who is clearly up to that challenge.

[Fairfloss]

Could our President be a woman? That's the question.
Is our Secretary of State being met with the respect she should be getting at this time?

What is good in theory, is not always available in practice.

I do believe the effort needs to be made and if it is not equally met by both, the Middle East as well as the West, than what?

Past history tells us a lot. We must remember it.

[Dap]

Dear Ambasator Ginsburg,

Thanks for your hopeful report. Personally I feel it is *Not* overly optimistic. Agape.