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Interview With Rob Sobhani
Aired April 09, 2003 - 13:27 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: We're also monitoring this extraordinary demonstration in Dearborn, Michigan, where many Iraqi- Americans live, many Arab-Americans. These people who are coming out clearly celebrating -- celebrating the end -- the apparent end, of the Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq.
While we wait for that, while we wait for the celebrations and the smiles on the Iraqi streets, the rest of the Arab world is watching with a lot more caution and perhaps disbelief.
Rob Sobhani is a professor at Georgetown University, knows the Middle East quite well. He's joining us live from Washington. Rob, thanks so much.
ROB SOBHANI, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY: Thank you.
BLITZER: How is this going to play in the Arab and Muslim world,? The end -- the apparent end -- I don't know if we necessarily have to put any conditions on it -- the end of the Saddam Hussein regime?
SOBHANI: I think, Wolf, the most fundamental change is going to be an in attitudes. And that is that good governance in the Arab world matters.
When the Iraqi people see the opportunity costs of 30 years of Saddam Hussein, and tell their story to the Arab world, I think it will all boil down to good governance. And I think this could be the beginning of a new chapter in the history of the Arab world, where, from now on, the Arab people will hopefully not look at themselves as victims, but will look at themselves as the potential heirs to a better life. And -- and this is -- and the requirement for this is for the Iraqi people need to come forward and tell their story about life under Saddam Hussein, Wolf.
BLITZER: Well, is this going to prove to be all that easy to establish some sort of democratic government in this huge country called Iraq, after so many years of Ba'ath Party rule?
SOBHANI: There's no doubt that there's going to be bumpy road ahead. But I'm confident that since it seems the Iraqi exile opposition -- that the Iraqis within Iraq have now tasted liberation, that they will hopefully put their differences aside and come together and build a new Iraq. Iraq is a rich country in terms of human resources, in terms of natural resources, agricultural, tourism, and hopefully with law and order provided by the U.S. military, the Iraqis themselves can build a good future for themselves.
And that's why I go back to the point of good governance. And hopefully this issue of good governance will spread to the rest of the Arab world.
BLITZER: What about the reaction in the Arab world? There's been a lot of fears that the images -- actually, Rob, I'm going to interrupt right now because the Pentagon briefing is about to begin.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired April 9, 2003 - 13:27 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: We're also monitoring this extraordinary demonstration in Dearborn, Michigan, where many Iraqi- Americans live, many Arab-Americans. These people who are coming out clearly celebrating -- celebrating the end -- the apparent end, of the Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq.
While we wait for that, while we wait for the celebrations and the smiles on the Iraqi streets, the rest of the Arab world is watching with a lot more caution and perhaps disbelief.
Rob Sobhani is a professor at Georgetown University, knows the Middle East quite well. He's joining us live from Washington. Rob, thanks so much.
ROB SOBHANI, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY: Thank you.
BLITZER: How is this going to play in the Arab and Muslim world,? The end -- the apparent end -- I don't know if we necessarily have to put any conditions on it -- the end of the Saddam Hussein regime?
SOBHANI: I think, Wolf, the most fundamental change is going to be an in attitudes. And that is that good governance in the Arab world matters.
When the Iraqi people see the opportunity costs of 30 years of Saddam Hussein, and tell their story to the Arab world, I think it will all boil down to good governance. And I think this could be the beginning of a new chapter in the history of the Arab world, where, from now on, the Arab people will hopefully not look at themselves as victims, but will look at themselves as the potential heirs to a better life. And -- and this is -- and the requirement for this is for the Iraqi people need to come forward and tell their story about life under Saddam Hussein, Wolf.
BLITZER: Well, is this going to prove to be all that easy to establish some sort of democratic government in this huge country called Iraq, after so many years of Ba'ath Party rule?
SOBHANI: There's no doubt that there's going to be bumpy road ahead. But I'm confident that since it seems the Iraqi exile opposition -- that the Iraqis within Iraq have now tasted liberation, that they will hopefully put their differences aside and come together and build a new Iraq. Iraq is a rich country in terms of human resources, in terms of natural resources, agricultural, tourism, and hopefully with law and order provided by the U.S. military, the Iraqis themselves can build a good future for themselves.
And that's why I go back to the point of good governance. And hopefully this issue of good governance will spread to the rest of the Arab world.
BLITZER: What about the reaction in the Arab world? There's been a lot of fears that the images -- actually, Rob, I'm going to interrupt right now because the Pentagon briefing is about to begin.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
