TRAGEDY OF THE ARABS

Ralph Peters correctly points out the Arab media is once again setting their citizens up for a rude awakening when Iraq inevitably falls. Certainly true. Indeed, even relatively modern Egypt still has all sorts of memorials to the 1973 war with Israel, in which they were soundly thumped, hailing it as a massive victory.

Peters also points out some other shortfalls in Arab civilization:

* It does not produce a single manufactured product of sufficient quality to sell on world markets.

* Arab productivity is the lowest in the world.

* It contains not a single world-class university.

* The once-great tradition of Arab science has degenerated into a few research programs in the fields of chemical and biological warfare.

* No Arab state is a true democracy.

* No Arab state genuinely respects human rights.

* No Arab state hosts a responsible media.

* No Arab society fully respects the rights of women or minorities.

* No Arab government has ever accepted public responsibility for its own shortcomings.

An excellent read. Peters is much better when not in anti-Rumsfeld vendetta mode.

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James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.