On George W. Bush: Hypocritical Critics in the Arab World

By Sam Dealey, Thomas Jefferson Street blog

DUBAI, U.A.E.—So how does the Arab world say goodbye to George Bush? An article in the Gulf News by Najla Al Rostamani promised the unexpected. "Dear Mr. Bush," the piece began:

Unlike many of my colleague writers and editors who have long been waiting for the day when they unleash their battery of criticism as you exit the presidential office, I shall take on a different stance. My approach is softer as I believe that the world community should have some appreciation for your eight-year governance. Truly, you should be thanked for many of the policies you had adopted and the numerous actions members of your administration had carried out regardless of the ensuing repercussions.

So for what does Rostamani feel appreciative? Very little, it turns out. The piece is an unimaginative collection of faux thanks reflecting the Arab world's hypocritical complaints about the erosion of civil liberties and international law.

Criticizing Bush for his conduct of the war on terror is certainly fair game. But those criticisms would carry greater weight if the person making them held all heads of government to the same principles. And if he wasn't an associate editor at a publication that's little more than a propaganda rag for Dubai's government. Some integrity.

• Read more by Sam Dealey.
• Read more from the Thomas Jefferson Street blog.
• Read more about George W. Bush.

Reader Comments Read all comments (2)

Add Your Thoughts

Comment Name State Select One AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE DC FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY International Email

Please enter the two words below into the text field underneath the image.

Incorrect please try again

Enter the words above: Enter the numbers you hear:

Your comment will be posted immediately, unless it is spam or contains profanity. For more information, please see our Comments FAQ.