Posted on 11/29/2006 5:26:06 PM PST by mylife
US should open up to Arabs, Muslims: Powell
Reuters
Dubai, November 30, 2006
Former US Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Wednesday that President George W Bush could fight terrorism better by reaching out to Arabs and Muslims.
"We are conveying a bad message, that America does not welcome you, particularly Arabs and Muslims," Powell told a business forum in the United Arab Emirates.
"The greatest weapon against terrorism for America is to open up for the rest of the world."
Arabs and Muslims have criticised US policies as biased towards Israel.
Tensions escalated after US-led wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and a backlash against Muslims and Arabs in the United States after the September 11, 2001 attacks.
The 19 Al-Qaeda hijackers who attacked US cities in 2001 were Arab Muslims, mainly from Saudi Arabia.
"I hope President Bush and Secretary (of State Condoleezza) Rice would double the effort to bring stability to this part of the world (Middle East)," he added.
Powell said the number of Arabs and Muslims who visit the US has dropped since the attacks and reflected negatively on educational institutions and leisure destinations.
Arabs and Muslims complain of heavy security searches in US airports and denial of access to the country. Many Arab students, mainly from Gulf Arab states, left the United States after the attacks due to fear of discrimination.
"This is bad, not good for America," said Powell.
"When students come to America for a couple of years they will understand Americans more. This is a great weapon against terrorism... not the use of the military."
sad
Oy vey.
Sounds like Powell fit right in at State.
I trust that he'll see a doctor soon after returning stateside.
Mr. Powell, don't you think we have an open enough country for Muslims? There are mosques in almost every city, aren't there?
If you want to "open up" more to Muslims, how about inviting Al-Qaeda members to your home, of course, after you've eliminated all means of self-defense for you and your family.
Mr. Powell, why aren't you responding?
Or, Mr. Powell, they come to America and spend time here and it re-affirms their hatred of western society. And then they start to dream of flying planes into buildings and other such unbelievable things.
Ah, a Neville Chamberlin with four gold stars. Does anyone know what Powell was "paid" to go over to UAE to give this speech?
He was making a speech in Dubai. What do you expect him to say?
Yeah 80 year old blind Grandmothers are getting tired
of having to remove their shoe too....JJ61
It takes a lot of courage to go into an arab country, look them right in the eye, face to face, and tell them flat out that the problem is that we're not nice enough to arabs.
yawn....
And Colin was forced to speak in Dubia?
Powell has been reading too many Jimmah Carter novels.
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