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CNN Saturday Morning News

How Is the U.S. Seen in the Arab World?

Aired September 29, 2001 - 07:40   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: So many questions at this point, including these two very critical ones. Why is America the target? And how is the U.S. seen in the Arab world? Hisham Melham is the Washington correspondent for a Lebanese newspaper, as well as for Al- Quabas, a newspaper based in Kuwait and for Radio Monte Carlo, which covers the entire Middle East.

Also with us, Mouafac Harb, Washington correspondent for Al-Hayat newspaper that is based in Beirut, Lebanon.

Gentlemen, good morning to both of you. And my apologies for my less than perfect pronunciations. Nonetheless, it is good to have you both with us this morning.

MOUAFAC HARB, AL-HAYAT, LEBANESE PAPER: Morning, Bill.

HEMMER: First to Mr. Melham, give us a general sense for how this is being reported back in the Middle East, not only for your publication, but also other publications in the area?

HISHAM MELHAM, AL-QUABAS, KUWAIT PAPER: Bill, the horror that visited New York and Washington on the 11th has been topic one throughout the region and television and print and radio. Most Arab media outlets do not coverage in Washington. So the coverage was basically relied heavily on wire services, which are combined usually in the region.

What was problematic, however, was the opinion writers, editorial writers, and columnists. And here, you have a whole gamut, the whole perspective. On the one hand, you have the genuine outpouring of grief and condemnation, unequivocal condemnation and sympathy with the plight of the American people.

On the other hand, on the other side of the spectrum, you had the outlandish, outrageous, surreal understanding of the events in New York, based on all sorts of conspiracy theories. People claiming that the attacks were carried out by disgruntled American intelligence operatives and/or Israeli operatives or right wing militia members, to avenge Timothy McVeigh. In one measure out of newspaper, and one measure out of countries friendly to the United States.

One writer said that the three airplanes that crashed into the targets were remotely controlled by sinister forces, that the fourth one was shot by an Air Force pilot. Now in the middle of the spectrum, you probably have the majority of the opinions. And you can classify under the school of yes, but. Yes, this was a horrendous act, but the United States should also examine some of the assumptions. Yes, the United States has the right to combat terrorism, but let's first define what is terrorism.

So this is the kind of, you know -- the full gamut. And of course, there were also exaggerations in the coverage of what happened to members of the Arab and the Muslim communities.

HEMMER: I want to talk more about those conspiracy reports in a second here, but Mr. Harb, to bring in here at this point.

What's being reported about the U.S. allegations that Al-Qaeda and that terrorist cell group is behind this operation here in the U.S.?

HARB: At the beginning of the incident on September 11, people did not realize the magnitude of what happened. And they thought it's, you know, one of those incidents that it's become part of the daily life of people in the Middle East. And finally, to reach the United States.

But then later on, because of the extensive media coverage, people realized this time, it's totally different. So at the beginning, as my colleague was talking, there were a lot of conspiracy theories. And people would say, you know, it may not be Al-Qaeda. It may be something like Oklahoma.

But then, after 48 hours, people realized that this is not the case this time. The magnitude of what happened is different. And Al- Qaeda and Osama bin Laden's people were the ones to blame. And they're starting to believe what the United States is saying.

HEMMER: So in large part, then Mr. Harb, that the reports about Al-Qaeda being behind this and the U.S. allegations that we've heard now for 18 days, most people are believing those to be true, correct?

HARB: Yes, correct, correct. The first few days, people were hesitant, but I think by now, it's becoming reality.

HEMMER: All right, Mr. Melham, I want to read a quote that you gave to some of our producers earlier, just to gain a better understanding to our viewers that Americans here in this country. You're saying that, you know, based on those conspiracy theories you just discussed, people are wondering if the U.S. will learn from this and possibly even change their foreign policy toward the Middle East.

I bring this up because we have an excellent documentary right now on our air here on CNN, where Osama bin Laden, about three years ago, talked about U.S. involvement with Israel and the Middle East, and also U.S. involvement in Saudi Arabia, wanting to drive the U.S. out of both of these regions.

When we talk about those ideas, how are they translated through the journalism, through the press in the Middle East? MELHAM: One of the most frequently asked questions now, since the events on the 11th, is will the United States draw the right lessons, if you will, from this tragedy and maybe reexamine some of its assumptions and policies, particularly vis a vis, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Will there be less support for Israel? Will there be greater understanding into Palestinian cause? And of course, beyond that, you have to go to the situation in Iraq, and also the complaint that you hear from many Arab intellectuals concerning the American support for autocratic, repressive Arab regimes that do -- that basically deny the basic rights of their own citizens and prevent them from expressing their views politically.

I mean, this is, if you will, the milieu that the culture, the political milieu, that people like Osama bin Laden exploit. And that's why many people are focusing now in the region on this issue.

Now one, again, could come up with a very rational narrative, as to what is the problem with American policies in the region, but it's very difficult to make the jump from that, to go to that nihilistic plane, where something like New York and Washington can be justified.

But again, the political discourse in the region reflects a lack of knowledge of the dynamics, political and social dynamics in the United States. Just as sometimes, unfortunately, the political discourse in this country reflects a lack of knowledge of the dynamics of the Arab world and the Muslim world.

HEMMER: I guess we can all learn a little something through this. And much more to come. Gentlemen, I have 100 questions, but we're out of time. But nonetheless, I want to thank you for coming in.

Hisham Melham and Mouafac Harb live with us in Washington. Thank you, men. Come on back, OK? All right.

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