By Ghassan Michel Rubeiz
Following a week of devastating economic news, the latest presidential and vice-presidential televised debates have put concerns of foreign affairs back on the campaign agenda - particularly issues of importance to Muslim-U.S. relations. Coupled with earlier campaign spin about Barack Obama's alleged Muslim roots, Sarah Palin's reference to "God's work" in Iraq, John McCain's repetitive reference to "radical Islam" and other examples of media mania about Islam, one may have the impression that the future of American relations with the Muslim world depends on the outcome of the 2008 elections.
This is not the case.
America will be tied to the Muslim world for centuries to come. There are six million Muslims in America, and many Americans work and live in the 56 Muslim-majority countries. Tens of thousands of Muslim students study in America. American universities in Muslim societies will continue to play a positive intercultural role.
The connections between the two worlds go beyond the diaspora, expatriate work opportunities and tourism. Washington is an ally of Pakistan in the fight against terrorism; it is allied with Turkey through NATO; it is a major player in the Arab-Israeli conflict; it is active in diplomacy with the people of Cyprus, the Balkans, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Although many of America's policies with Muslim-majority countries take the form of aid and cooperation, America is also engaged in two active wars in Muslim-majority countries and is confronting Iran aggressively on nuclear defense issues and its relations with Hizbullah and Hamas.
These many links - whether over common interest, immigration or competition - will play a long-term role in Muslim-U.S. relations well beyond the November election.
Of the many leading issues in this presidential race, the three matters that most directly impact America's relationship with Muslims - both domestically and abroad - are the future of Iraq, independence from Middle East oil and resolution of the Israel-Palestine question.
Neither candidate has outlined a comprehensive plan to end the war in Iraq. Both disagree on what constitutes success. Obama focuses on the pace of troop withdrawal (16 months after he's elected), and McCain stresses military "victory," with troop withdrawal playing a secondary factor. In fact, the Bush administration has already accepted a major troop withdrawal within the next two years, because the Iraqi government now feels more secure and is demanding U.S. forces leave sooner rather than later.
What will really impact American relations with the Muslim world is not the timing of withdrawal as much as the stabilization of Iraq and its unity. Neither party in this election has a clear plan yet on how to secure Iraq for the long run, how to preserve its unity and how to fit this restructured state into the region. This is where the opportunities lie for enhancing U.S.-Muslims relations.
As to the second issue of special relevance to U.S.-Muslim relations, both candidates are vocal on the need to be independent from Middle East oil. Spontaneous oil autonomy is not realistic. Meanwhile, Arabs are not rushing for disengagement from America and remain a welcome presence in the U.S. market.
A gradual reduction of oil importing from the Middle East, accompanied by and integrated with U.S. support of Arab industrialization, will not only bring about autonomy for Americans but also stimulate an economic industrial revival in oil-rich countries, providing jobs to millions of young people. Many oil countries operate vulnerable "rent economies." Oil economies also need independence from oil through diversification.
Palestine and the perceived bias of the United States toward Israel is the third issue that will impact Washington's relations with Muslims. Unlike McCain, Obama seems to have a strong impulse to support the Middle East peace process. However, with Palestinians divided politically and Hamas in leadership, a U.S.-led breakthrough between Palestinians and Israelis is unlikely in the near future.
But there are still opportunities for U.S. involvement in the Middle East. The United States could work harder on the Syrian-Israeli track of the peace process and start a new chapter of rapprochement with Iran. If there is progress in U.S.-Syrian-Iranian diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli peace process will be automatically accelerated.
The coming elections may affect the future dynamics of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, the profile of energy saving and the pace of the Arab-Israeli peace process. But regardless of which party is in the White House in January 2009, the United States will need to continue to work with many Muslim majority countries on a host of broad issues, and to consider Muslim Americans important within the mosaic of political constituencies and vital to the American social mix.
Dr Ghassan Michel Rubeiz is an Arab American commentator with special interest in the promotion of Arab-American relations. He is the former Secretary of the Middle East for the Geneva-based World Council of Churches. This article was written for the Common Ground News Service.
Email This Post | Del.icio.us | Digg | Facebook
Please e-mail PostGlobal if you'd like to receive an email notification when PostGlobal sends out a new question.
Comments (6)
Mr. Rubeiz states:
“the United States will need to continue to work with many Muslim majority countries on a host of broad issues, and to consider Muslim Americans important within the mosaic of political constituencies and vital to the American social mix.”
With all this talk about Muslims, Arabs, Muslim majority countries and American Muslims I felt a need to make an important clarification by way of distinction. Arabs are only 20% of all Muslims and not all Arabs are Muslims.
Christian Arabs while at one time were the vast majority of the populations of the Middle East and North Africa, now they are minorities in these regions. Their percentage ranges from 45% percent in Lebanon to 0% in Saudi Arabia.
In the American continents, however, Christian Arabs now outnumber the total number of all Muslims by at least a factor of 2. The reason being that Christian Arabs began to immigrate in the late 19th Century because of persecution and oppression at the hands of the ruling Turks. On the other hand, Muslims Arabs and non-Arabs started emigrating only in the seventies of the last century.
Christian Arabs have threaded themselves within the fabric of the societies they live in North and South America that they could hardly be distinguished. They do not try to impose their culture or ideology on any one else , because they have integrated fully and quickly. If anything distinguishes them is their success and patriotism toward their adopted countries. They produced presidents, presidential candidates, senators, representatives, governors and leaders and pioneers in medicine, science, arts, business and industry. They have produced US army generals as well as jet- fighter aces. I can discern an Arab American only from his last name; John abu Rizk, John AbiZeid, Michael DeBakey, Danny Touma, Ralph Nader, James Zughbi, Tony Shalhoub etc. They seem to project an influence that is far greater than their numbers. In the small Midwestern town where I live there are at least two Farha YMCA Sport Centers , Ablah University Library, Colonel James Jabara Airport and Jabara Museum.
October 15, 2008 12:45 PM | Report Offensive Comment
Posted on October 15, 2008 12:45
Islams are suffering from the atrocity (U.S's war for self-interest) and fickleness (U.S's game for the world "democracy")of an empire. Pinning the hope on the change of others' president only prolongs Muslim's suffering.Short term relief,yet long term suffering.
October 10, 2008 8:50 PM | Report Offensive Comment
Posted on October 10, 2008 20:50
I am in 100% agreement with Dr. Rubeiz.Great article! Something for all Americans to think about.
October 8, 2008 8:14 PM | Report Offensive Comment
Posted on October 8, 2008 20:14
In my opinion 2008 will be very crucial for Us_Islamic world relation.Two great happeneing in the world has changed the relation angle and two more thing will change the relation between two world.
let see what happend of two things have chnaged the world 1.the attack on Iraq and Afghanistan 2 the Russia attack on Georgia.These two events gave two different signals to world of islam.One angered the Islam world and second expose the American limits in front of powers.these two will encourage the vunrebale islam to look towards russia and china and even for own military block of middle eastern countries.What will happene if Islamic world conclude the military pact from Indonesia to Turkey?
The two more things will be the American financial crisis and the American failing mission in two invaded countries.The American president election will not so crucial for ISlamic world.bCause see in real politic no American president deny the interets of Israel and USa in middle east.And here the tussle of middle nation interest and Israel will be overpowered by the USA.
The trouble in two countries will led the American position venrable in Asia.No Asian nation in Asia is ready to accept American presence in Asia.And what the Usa has done with world of ISlam will creat problem for the USa interest in Asia.The presnece of America in Asia with the help of India through nuclear deal will go in tough time.
So let see how US-islamic world relation will go in 2008 but one thing is final that USa will seek Islamic world support to counter Russia,china and India.But Muslims this time will be more cautious than they were not during Afghan adventure.
But see we all hope for better world and better understanding.
October 8, 2008 7:04 AM | Report Offensive Comment
Posted on October 8, 2008 07:04
AnjuChandel claims there is no "jewish world". He should travel to apartheid israel, go to Gaza and west bank, visit palestinian refugee camps in lebanon, syria, jordan ... Palestinians live in open prisons created by the apartheid suprimacists "jewish world" and supported by mindless zionists in the american "bible belt"
October 7, 2008 9:11 AM | Report Offensive Comment
Posted on October 7, 2008 09:11
When there is no "Hindu world" or "Christian world" or "Jew world" or "Buddhist world" or any other "world" based on any religion, then why do we always talk about "Muslim world"?
This is "One World" and people of all religions have to live in harmony, showing genuine respect and tolerance towards all other religions of the world.
And, fanatics and fundamentalists in all religions need to be condemned in gravest possible manner. Otherwise, sensible and moderate people following those religions will unnecessarily - and unfortunately - have to bear the brunt of the "Rest of the World".
October 7, 2008 1:52 AM | Report Offensive Comment
Posted on October 7, 2008 01:52