Former US President George Herbert Walker Bush was at the BusinessWeek forum held in Beijing recently. He gave the keynote closing remarks, followed by a one-on-one conversation with journalist and author Riz Khan, soon to be head of Al-Jazeera International in Washington D.C.
Two of the questions directed at the former president were regarding US foreign policy and its effect on the American image.
“I am American, living abroad, and I deal with this hatred everyday ... all I can do about it is wear my ‘I love Canada’ T-shirt,” said a member of the audience.
Dispersed applause shimmered from the proud Canadians in the conference hall. The rest sat patiently, eager to hear the former president’s response.
“Everybody keeps saying this, and I don’t know why,” he replied. “I don’t think it’s true. Just look at our borders, everyone is trying to get in. They keep coming back.”
This answer was repeated twice, and the second time did not make it right. Now I understand that the former president feels cornered, with his own son at the receiving end of these accusations. I am nevertheless disappointed.
American media criticizes Saudi Arabia for taking too long in its execution of reform. Saudis all over the world are received with suspicion and distrust. They are denied student visas, and are pressured to shave off their mustaches and beards to look Western enough for their job interviews. Why can’t Saudi Arabia respond to all of them the way the former US president did last week? Why can’t we tell them all that it’s not true, that the Saudi image is fine and that there is no place for criticism in our policies? Why can’t we justify ourselves by arguing that foreign workers crowd our borders and still come to us for better jobs and higher salaries?
Mr. President, it is true: Your borders are full of immigrants who go to America seeking better jobs, better homes and a better life. Indeed, your country has much for us to admire, but this is irrelevant here.
American foreign policy is the issue, now more than ever. The choices your country makes affect America as well as all of us. They have brought about more hatred and are causing more suffering than any country can stand to handle. The rehabilitation of America’s foreign policy is no longer a matter of choice. We can no longer afford any more mistakes or experiments on your end.
You say that all countries get ostracized from time to time, that it’s a natural cycle, and that the US is simply going through a downturn right now. I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, Mr. President, but this problem will not just go away.
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad spoke the night before you did at the forum, and when he was asked about US foreign policy, he said: “My friend once told me that when you have a hammer, everything starts to look like a nail.”
Even your own toes!
(Jawaher Al-Sudairy is a guest contributor. She is based in Riyadh.)