Military and political analyses are common on satellite channels since the war on Iraq started, and we hear them on Arab channels too. This is understandable: The situation needs to be made clear for ordinary Arab viewers. That is why these channels invite military and political analysts. But sometimes they invite an “expert,” and we find, to our surprise, that he has no idea what he is talking about. His comments are no more insightful than what any Arab would say in a coffee shop.
An expert, as far as I know, is someone who has studied a subject at length and in depth. When he is asked a question, he does not stutter or shy away from details. He will have clear, convincing answers related to the subject. He has reliable sources, solid research and the ability to distinguish between good and bad information.
There are people on television who try to propagandize the American point of view as part of the psychological war on Iraq. The idea is to convince viewers that the war aims to rid Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction and its oppressive regime.
I am not against people expressing their opinion, but I cannot understand what kind of freedom allows certain people to export their ideas on Tomahawk Cruise missiles or on B-52 bombers. They have not convinced me that their understanding of the events is better than the understanding of other Western experts who objected to the American military intervention in Iraq. Did these other experts miss the good intentions the Americans and British have toward Iraq? Why does the world object so vehemently to this war if George W. Bush and Tony Blair have good intentions? Were they misled by the Iraqi media?
I am not against objective military and political analysis as long as it searches for the truth. Nor am I defending the Iraqi regime. But looking at the current situation of the Iraqi people, I do not think that any Muslim or Arab should offer any information on Iraq unless it is to protect Arab and Muslim interests in the area.
Arab News From the Local Press 2 April 2003
