The following is an archived copy of a message sent to a Discussion List run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
Views expressed in this archived message are those of the author, not of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
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Dear Hadi (and others), I have been following the recent debate on the CASI list with great distress. Just like you I have been extremely outraged, saddened and depressed by what is going on in Palestine/Israel. Like you I feel that many of the problems in the Middle East are linked and one always needs to keep the bigger regional and international picture in sight when discussing either economic sanctions in Iraq or the atrocities committed against Palestinians. However, I feel that part of “our problem” (that is the Arabs) is that we often tend to get carried away in these bigger issues and loose sight of anything that one can actually practically handle. I am convinced that Mil as well as most other non-Arab members of CASI are very well informed about the situation in Palestine and the fact that some f these problems are rooted in so-called western politics towards the region. But what are you going to do with this knowledge? This is a very specific discussion list, established by a student organization which works in an extremely efficient and focused way. They have managed to raise more awareness and reach out to more people than any Iraqi or Arab organization has been able to during the past years. I am actually very concerned with the lack of initiative and interest among many many Iraqis and Arabs in this country. Recently an Iraqi friend of mine and myself established a women’s group of Iraqi and non- Iraqi women to work together against economic sanctions (Act Together: Women Against sanctions on Iraq). Unfortunately there are not many of these alliances. But I find the reason you are giving for this, for example,. Arabs not wanting to join CASI, unfair and out of place. I think we need to do some soul-searching and self-criticism before blaming others. The truth is that it needs some focussing, discipline and certain rules of political engagement to actually get anything done. Mil, to my mind, is one of the fairest, committed, sensitive and insightful activists we have in the anti-sanctions movement. Come on, Hadi, we are all frustrated by what is happening. Don’t take it out on those who last deserve it! Warm regards, Nadje ----------------------------------- Dr Nadje Al-Ali Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies University of Exeter Telephone: +44-(0)20 - 7284 1450 mobile: +44-(0)7801 931869 Fax: +44(0)1392 264035 Email: N.S.Al-Ali@exeter.ac.uk Visit the Institute's website: http://www.ex.ac.uk/iais -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This is a discussion list run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq For removal from list, email soc-casi-discuss-request@lists.cam.ac.uk Full details of CASI's various lists can be found on the CASI website: http://www.casi.org.uk