A call for more
A former ambassador says the US and Egypt need to
recognize the "intensity and level of ignorance" of
their peoples regarding the other. by Tarek Atia
(cairolive.com, October 30, 2001)
At several venues around town last week, Edward Walker
emphasized the need for the US and Egypt to better
understand each other. Walker is a former US
ambassador to Egypt, who last held the position of
Assistant US Secretary of State for the Mideast. At a
small gathering held by Egypt's Economic Forum, he
said that both countries had to recognize the
"intensity and level of ignorance" of their peoples
regarding the other.
Weighing in on the same subject during a recent trip
to Morocco, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher
said the dialogue of civilizations must go beyond the
superficial. Maher told the Middle East News Agency
that core issues must be addressed, and that even
though each civilization has questions for the other,
these important issues don't get brought up. Only by
deepening the levels of understanding between peoples,
the Minister said, can things go beyond
misunderstanding and negative views.
Americans are extremely naive about other countries
and religions, but the events of September 11 are
starting to change that, explained Walker, who heads
the Middle East Institute (MEI), a Washington think
tank. He says the MEI website was getting around 5000
hits a week, which went up to 60,000 a day in the wake
of the attacks. Especially popular are its pages which
explain Islam.
Also since September 11, Arab Americans are getting
much more media attention, which means their views are
starting to be heard. "They're presenting themselves
as moderate," Walker said.
However, the gap in budgets between Arab lobbying
groups and Israeli ones is reflected in the ability of
each to present their point of view. According to
Walker, the Arab American Anti Discrimination
Committee's budget is around $1.5 million per year,
barely enough to place 2 or 3 ads in the New York
Times. In comparison, the American Israeli Political
Action Committee's budget is definitely in the
multi-million range, though Walker, who was also
ambassador to Israel, said no one knows the real
number.
"This has to change," Walker said. "The Israelis have
people all over Washington right now... I'm not saying
they shouldn't." he explained, "but I'm saying you
should too."
Walker said he was talking to a friend of his in
Congress who said she gets a press release from the
Israeli lobby everyday on every issue, big or small,
while from Arab groups she hardly gets anything. These
constant, instantaneous messages are used by senators
and congressmen in drafting legislation, and helping
to convince their colleagues to support it.
When Tom Lantos wants her to sign something against
the Palestinians, Walker's friend told him, these are
the position papers he uses.
