Arab view of Karen Hughe's propaganda initiative

http://english.daralhayat.com/opinion/OPED/10-2006/Article-20061001-038ba1c4-c0a8-10ed-00e2-9f365c5972d6/story.html

It's The Policy, Stupid!

> Mustapha Zein Al-Hayat - 01/10/06
>
> An American star of Latin origin has been a frequent guest on Arab satellite channels. He could be from Mexico or Guatemala or Argentina, it makes no difference. His name is Alberto Fernandez. His job is Director of the Office of Press and Public Diplomacy in the US Department of State Bureau of Near East Affairs.
>
> Fernandez is fluent in Arabic. His catchphrase is: 'incorrect'. When he is asked about the massacres in Iraq he asserts that it is the outcome of democracy. When he is asked about the scandal at Abu Ghraib he expounds on the UN charters and international treaties and the treatment of prisoners under these conventions.
>
> When he is asked about the US' adoption of Israel he gives a long-winded explanation of peace, the Roadmap, the Oslo Accords and the merits of the Segregation Wall, the withdrawal from Gaza, and Camp David…etc.
>
> Fernandez does not forget to express his pain, in plain Arabic, for the suffering of the Palestinians, the Lebanese and the Iraqis because of injustice, and not because of the occupation and the indiscriminate killing, but because these people do not understand American policies and do not evaluate the precious gifts: the fighters, the tanks, and the smart and cluster bombs. Furthermore, these people are not peace-loving, and they support and produce terrorism because they are assailed by 'Islamic fascism' and by movements like Hamas and Hezbollah.
>
> The US State Department wanted to propagate the extraordinary success achieved by Fernandez, so White House 'spice dealer' Karen Hughes decided to increase the American presence on Arab and European screens by 100% and create media superstars that the Arab viewer will be accustomed to. She gave the task to her deputy, Adam Ereli, who brought glad tidings to everyone and decided to establish offices for this purpose in London, Brussels and Dubai............

The 'spice dealer' chose these two European capitals because she believes that the hatred of American policy is not restricted to the Arab World alone. The Old Continent also does not like Bush, and its media is influenced by the leftist traditions and sympathizes with the Arabs. Therefore, there is a need of a spray of magical perfume and a lucky charm offensive launched via European screens to make the peoples fall in love with Cheney, Rumsfeld and the 'Lords of Darkness': the neo- and old conservatives.

Hughes was somewhat too late in Europe; the 'stupid' peoples of the Old Continent preceded her: the Spaniards removed Aznar. The Italians removed Berlusconi, and the Britons are taking vengeance on Blair's slavish subordination. Meanwhile, the Arabs are following up with great concern on the movement of fleets, aircraft and tanks, the deployment of military bases in their territories, and the coming wars.

They are facing Bush's unknowns and are waiting for the new stars on their television screens. The stars of 'Al-Hurra' and Radio 'Sawa' were criticized by Ereli himself: "Al-Hurra did not succeed in delivering the administration's point of view in spite of its relative popularity in Iraq". Hughes' deputy reassures us by saying that in Washington, "there are American officials fluent in Arabic, Russian, German and other languages, and they will speak to the viewers in their own languages".

So this is the case: the media is responsible for this failure, and needs to be reviewed. That is what the White House believes. No, it's the wars - it's the policy, stupid!