Powell's attempt to hasten Middle East reform.

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Outgoing Secretary of State Colin Powell is, as I assume everybody knows, in the ME attempting to further the US' agenda for political reform in the Middle east, and drum up support for the "war against terror" -

As the BBC says: "The controversial US initiative will open a dialogue on political, economic and social reforms in North Africa and the greater Middle East, with economic aid from the G8 as an incentive. "

What do people think of this initiative, (which is, of course, very controversial in The ME)??? Already, of course, reform in human rights etc in the ME is being tied to a peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians, and US support for Israel is a sticking point......

Nonetheless...might it have a good effect???

Here are a couple of links for people who may not know what I am talking about:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4087525.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4085081.stm

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2004-12-11-islamic-reform_x.htm

And - here an article on a locally generated reform movement in Egypt:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3965977.stm

And Israeli-inspired reform in Syria:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3696718.stm

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(I found this http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4031827.stm on internal debate in Arab television management interesting, too. Here is the opening of that article:

Arab TV eyes reform agenda
By Peter Feuilherade
BBC Monitoring, in Portugal

Top broadcasters from pan-Arab satellite TV stations have expressed mixed views about whether their channels should limit themselves to reporting and informing the audience, or have a political agenda and promote reform.

Pan-Arabic TV has made a huge impact on viewers in recent years

They were taking part in the recent News Xchange broadcasting conference in southern Portugal.

King Abdullah of Jordan, speaking via a satellite link from Amman, told over 400 TV executives and journalists at the gathering that the media in the Arab world had "a vital role to play in bringing about reform in Arab people's minds".

But Arab governments had to play their part too, the king suggested.

He cited Jordan as an example where the government had relinquished direct control of the media and abolished the ministry of information.

"Is there any media without a political message?" asked Emad el-Din Adeeb of Egypt's Orbit TV.

Hosam El-Sokkari of the BBC Arabic Service replied that the British public broadcaster certainly did not see its role as political.

The BBC's role was to give as much information as possible to inform people and help them make up their own minds, he said.

Independence test

Mouafac Harb, director of news at the US government-funded al-Hurra TV, said it was a myth that pan-Arab TV channels were free and independent.

"Pan-Arab media are mouthpieces of Arab governments... they are all linked, money-wise, to one or other Arab state," he argued.

But Abdallah Schleifer, director of the Adham Centre for TV Journalism in Cairo, countered that relying on state funding did not need to impinge on the independence of pan-Arab channels.

The real test of editorial independence lay in whether the stations could act as a force to watch over their own governments and criticise them when necessary, delegates suggested.

And Egyptian broadcaster Mohamed Gohar joked that in Egypt "we have a full democracy - in criticising Bush and Sharon."..........

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wow

Powell says:" See, i am ganna be the greatest secretary of department of United States ever! hahahaha!"

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Powell's attempt to hasten Middle East reform.

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