Arab Perspective: Hearing voices and the rumble of destruction

Two topics made headlines this week in the Arab press. The first was Palestinian Information Minister Nabeel Shaath's announcement that US President George W. Bush had told him that he was ordered by God to invade Iraq and build a Palestinian state. It received a wide reaction in the Arab world. The South Asian earthquake also featured prominently in most newspapers, with the majority praising the international community for its speedy assistance. Manal Alafrangi reviews what was said

Beginning with US President George W. Bush's religious rhetoric, Mohammad Kharoub of Al Rai (Jordon) says Dr Nabeel Shaath has no reason to fabricate words by the president of the most powerful country in history; one that is able to wipe out the roadmap and crush the idea of a Palestinian State (which was championed by Bush himself).

On the other hand, it is interesting to monitor the speed of the White House's reaction to this.

Kharoub says this is an indication of the extent of the political catastrophe faced by the current administration, especially given the decline in the president's popularity and increase in number of studies and research pieces to discuss the recent phenomenon of making US politics more religious.

An editorial in Al Quds Al Arabi says Dr Nabeel Shaath's revelations were "not surprising". President Bush in the past, used such expressions as "of the crusades" to describe the wars he launched in Afghanistan under the banner of "war on terror".

And just like his advisers denied the president's use of these words and claimed it had been a "slip", a White House spokesman declared Dr Shaath's recent words were "silly" and denied that his president said such a thing.

The paper says, "Dr Nabeel Shaath does not lie." Furthermore, because BBC, the source of this news, is aware of the seriousness of this information, it would have checked to make sure it is accurate and that it came from President Bush, who has become famous for his "religious rigidity".

The editorial argues, had this talk come from a normal person (other than President Bush), that person would have been immediately arrested by the health police and sent to the nearest hospital for psychiatric help.

This is to offer the necessary medicine and to protect the rest from this man's evil.

What is sad according to this paper is that the man who claims to be receiving revelations and orders from God is the president of the "most powerful country in history". He carries with him a case that contains the "nuclear button" that could destroy all of humanity.

A question is posed by this paper: "If Godly revelations are the force behind Bush's foreign policy, then what is the use of having the State Department, CIA, FBI and all the research institutes and universities?"

The editorial concludes with an analogy: "The orders of God that President Bush keeps receiving are like the decisions made by the UN Security Council; they lose their effect completely when it comes to Palestine ... Israel is above all Godly and positive laws because of America's protection of this state."

Shawki Hafez of Al Watan (Oman) writes that President Bush is worried that an "evil Islamic empire" would rise and extend from Spain to Indonesia and this is linked to his invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.

In a sarcastic manner, Hafez questions who this messenger is that keeps sending revelations to Bush and why he chose him exclusively.

Concluding, Hafez says "most likely, the president ‘pushed his luck' by trying to distract people from the problems he faces in Iraq and New Orleans".

South Asian earthquake

The devastating earthquake that destroyed parts of Pakistan and India on Saturday morning has caused widespread destruction.

Al Khaleej (UAE) says the earthquake that claimed the lives of thousands of people and caused an international reaction to face its aftermath is a reminder of "international donations that took place after Katrina and the tsunami".

What is interesting according to this paper is that human cooperation is at its best when it comes to handling catastrophes, "they produce a collaboration that equally involves the rich and the poor".

A question is posed: "Is there a lesson to be learnt from this display of humanity and could a catastrophe like this motivate mankind to raise awareness based on solidarity and cooperation instead of confrontation, power and war?"

The United Nations ought to establish an international organisation (similar to Unesco) with the specific goal of dealing with natural catastrophes at any time.

The editorial concludes, "At a time when the US administration continues its talk about a world filled with freedom and democracy, doesn't this same world deserve generous and sincere acts of humanity?"

An editorial in Al Ahram (Egypt) says this earthquake raises awareness of "unconventional threats" in this part of the developing world.

The paper continues: "The danger lies in the fact that these threats do not distinguish between a rich country and a poor country, not to mention the huge human and material losses it causes along the way."

The paper says this should push the international community to look into the meaning of human security and re-evaluate their current agendas when it comes to the Indian subcontinent.

This catastrophe also sheds light on the "traditional" conflict between India and Pakistan over Kashmir.
For the last three years, the two countries' relationship has experienced a level of "openness" and, as a result, they have been able to discuss peace options together.

Al Ahram contends given the tough circumstances both countries are going through, a peaceful resolution ought to receive a vital momentum from this catastrophe.