| Mid-East Realities | www.middleeast.org |
Washington Scene:
MID-EAST REALITIES © - www.MiddleEast.Org - Washington - 6/12: A week ago outside the State Department one of the latest Muslim organization reps to grab for the cameras -- Khalid Turaani -- declared in loud tones how the time had finally come for "civil disobedience" and how he and the other leaders of the assembled Muslim "client organizations" were going to get arrested in a peaceful protest, would be back every week, and would be calling on their followers around the country to follow in their footsteps.
If the situation in the Middle East region were not so serious it would be easy to dismiss all this kind of thing as comical facade of little importance. But Washington is the Rome of the modern era; and what happens here, and how it happens, and what doesn't happen, are all of considerable significance. Not only are the actual policies that affect much of the world made in Washington; but the flows of monies, arms, intelligence, and covert operations all are generated by those who control the power and the purse-strings in this capital. And keeping domestic American constituencies in check, along with diverting the media to some "representatives" and away from others, that's also an important part of the way the game is played in Washington, especially in these days of instant TV and the internet.
Just like there are "client regimes" in the region, paid and armed to keep their people in check and make sure the oil and petrodollars flow to the U.S. and Europe, there are now a whole bunch of associated Arab and Muslim "client organizations" in Washington sponsored by these regimes, especially by Saudi Arabia whose long-time Ambassador, Prince Bandar, has set up and controls in one way or another, nearly all of the Muslim and Arab groups that have sprung up. Paid, promoted, and rewarded, by the "client regimes" and their friends -- this doesn't require a lot really -- these "client organizations" then have the job of keeping their people in the U.S. in check and providing ever-ready talking heads for the radio and TV shows while even more importantly making sure others who actually have something to say and some credibility to go with it are not the ones who get heard.
So there he was a week ago now today in front of the State Department, Khalid Turaani of the official sounding "American Muslims for Jerusalem", half a dozen cameras rolling because the numerous press releases had declared the time had come for "civil disobedience" and they were going to get "arrested" at the State Department. But shortly after the cameras finished recording the speeches and interviewing the representatives of half a dozen organizations (all incestuous, all interrelated, and all "clients") the whole thing was over in about an hour from start to finish. Now of course those there knew very well how easy it would have been to actually get arrested if they really wanted to. But to observers on the scene it looked as if they may have even been coordinating with the many police on scene precisely so they could get credit for reading their tough-minded statements to the cameras while then actually acting as a bunch of wimps and going off to have lunch together or back to their well-appointed offices.
Now a week later there is no follow-up, there is no campaign, there is nothing new really after all from these Muslim organizations and their on-the-take on-the-make reps like Turaani.. In fact the same Khalid Turaani is precisely a week later doing little but sending around emails asking his followers around the country -- of whom there are not many -- to themselves send emails to ABC News and Peter Jennings thanking them for their "even handed" coverage of events in the Middle East! (sic...can you believe it?).
With reps like Turaani, and Zogby, and Maksoud in Washington, the Israelis and the Americans know they have nothing to worry about here in the USA no matter what dastardly things escalate still further in the Middle East itself. Everything is under control.
Washington, D.C. (June 12, 2001) - American Muslims and other people of conscience are requested to contact Peter Jennings at World News Tonight and thank him for his honest and fair coverage of events in the Middle East... "Honest, even-handed coverage of the Palestinians is difficult to find in American media," said American Muslims for Jerusalem executive director Khalid Turaani, "And it is important to affirm unbiased journalism when we see it." Action Requested: (MER - the usual nonsense)
Khalid Turaani
If the situation in the Middle East region were not so serious it would be easy to dismiss all this kind of thing as comical facade of little importance. But Washington is the Rome of the modern era; and what happens here, and how it happens, and what doesn't happen, are all of considerable significance. Not only are the actual policies that affect much of the world made in Washington; but the flows of monies, arms, intelligence, and covert operations all are generated by those who control the power and the purse-strings in this capital. And keeping domestic American constituencies in check, along with diverting the media to some "representatives" and away from others, that's also an important part of the way the game is played in Washington, especially in these days of instant TV and the internet.
Just like there are "client regimes" in the region, paid and armed to keep their people in check and make sure the oil and petrodollars flow to the U.S. and Europe, there are now a whole bunch of associated Arab and Muslim "client organizations" in Washington sponsored by these regimes, especially by Saudi Arabia whose long-time Ambassador, Prince Bandar, has set up and controls in one way or another, nearly all of the Muslim and Arab groups that have sprung up. Paid, promoted, and rewarded, by the "client regimes" and their friends -- this doesn't require a lot really -- these "client organizations" then have the job of keeping their people in the U.S. in check and providing ever-ready talking heads for the radio and TV shows while even more importantly making sure others who actually have something to say and some credibility to go with it are not the ones who get heard.
So there he was a week ago now today in front of the State Department, Khalid Turaani of the official sounding "American Muslims for Jerusalem", half a dozen cameras rolling because the numerous press releases had declared the time had come for "civil disobedience" and they were going to get "arrested" at the State Department. But shortly after the cameras finished recording the speeches and interviewing the representatives of half a dozen organizations (all incestuous, all interrelated, and all "clients") the whole thing was over in about an hour from start to finish. Now of course those there knew very well how easy it would have been to actually get arrested if they really wanted to. But to observers on the scene it looked as if they may have even been coordinating with the many police on scene precisely so they could get credit for reading their tough-minded statements to the cameras while then actually acting as a bunch of wimps and going off to have lunch together or back to their well-appointed offices.
Now a week later there is no follow-up, there is no campaign, there is nothing new really after all from these Muslim organizations and their on-the-take on-the-make reps like Turaani.. In fact the same Khalid Turaani is precisely a week later doing little but sending around emails asking his followers around the country -- of whom there are not many -- to themselves send emails to ABC News and Peter Jennings thanking them for their "even handed" coverage of events in the Middle East! (sic...can you believe it?).
With reps like Turaani, and Zogby, and Maksoud in Washington, the Israelis and the Americans know they have nothing to worry about here in the USA no matter what dastardly things escalate still further in the Middle East itself. Everything is under control.
| Mid-East Realities | www.middleeast.org |
| Source: http://www.middleeast.org/articles/2001/6/241.htm |