Institute of Policy Studies, ISLAMABAD, April 29:



America today is what the colonial France was in the 19th century. Like France, it is too self-assured of its 'virtue' and has embarked upon a civilizing mission of spread of democracy.

These were the views of Mr. John W. Kiser III, President, Kiser Research Inc., Washington D.C., at a talk "French Experience in Algeria: Lessons for America" at the Institute of Policy Studies, Islamabad. Besides him, Senator Khurshid Ahmad also spoke briefly on the subject, while Pakistan's former ambassador Dr. S.M. Koreshi presided over the session.

Noting that French held a very high opinion of themselves, considered themselves the liberators and reformers of Europe and boasted about their superior culture as well as their advancement in science and technology, Mr. Kiser said that "America suffers from the French complex" today. Algerian experience of France presents an analogy to the current American undertaking "not only in Iraq but throughout the Middle East", he maintained.

In a comprehensive review of the history of French presence in Algeria, dividing it into different phases: the occupation phase, the transformation phase, the exit phase and the present sovereignty phase, the American scholar drew parallels between the past French colonial rule and the current American domination and 'undertaking' in Iraq. As the French met stiff resistance throughout their stay in Algeria, until President Charles de Gaulle pulled decided to pull out his troops from that country, America too is facing formidable resistance in Iraq and its leaders are hard pressed to make a decision whether to stay, and for how long, or to leave the country, he said.

Mr. Kiser observed that French were deft and knew local culture, learned Arabic and used local tribes for maintaining control. This is where French seem to be ahead of America, he said and added that Americans have not leveled with the local population, know nothing about the Arab culture. "They have rather committed human rights violations and incident like Abu Gharib prison have badly sullied America's reputation," he noted.

Americans do not know the local culture and show indifference to Arab and Muslim sensitivities. Moreover, he said, "we do not have the linguistic tools" to describe various schools of thought and action among Muslims. When we call them Islamic fundamentalists, we are reminded that the term fundamentalist originally applied to Christian Protestants who believed that the Bible was literally revealed by God, he observed. Similarly, the term 'radicals' is also mischievous. Our job is not helped by dubbing those who differ with our stance as 'extremists' 'fanatics' or 'militants', maintained Mr. John Kiser.

In his brief remarks, Senator Khurshid Ahmad said that American undertaking presents a model of colonial control and management with least concern for peoples' dignity and respect. Observing that the days of colonialism are over and the pluralism is the demand of the time, he said "use of force for political and economic interests as well as for imposition of faith and values is deplorable".

Being the most powerful country, America wants to impose its values on others, he said, but it is "this asymmetry of power" that has given rise to terrorism because "terrorism is the weapon of the weak" in the face of brute force of the powerful. Instead of realizing this fact, America is obsessed with the colonial paradigm, he said.

The world has become only more unsafe after the events of 9/11 because of the U.S. policies. "The question of justice and emergence of a just world order is must if it is to become a peaceful abode, where all people coexist in harmony," he said and added America has to choose between subjugating the world by force or provide moral leadership.

The program ended with the concluding remarks by the Chair, former ambassador Dr. S.M. Koreshi.


Abdullah M. Adnan

Incharge

IPS Media Unit