David Cameron Speaks Truth to Arabs

British PM David Cameron is rounding up a tour of the Middle East. He was the first head of state to visit post-Mubarak Egypt and he is currently in Qatar. At Qatar University he held a discussion with Qatari students and took questions on a number of issues ranging from the UK-Qatar relationship to the Arab Revolutions.

David Cameron with Qatari prime minister Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr al-Thani on 23 February.

While addressing the prevalence of dictators in the Arab World, Cameron told the audience about the use of Israel as a distraction:

“In too many countries in the Middle East, some rulers say to their people ‘be angry about [Israel], don’t be angry about the fact that you live in a non-open society,"


This is not a revolutionary idea. It is in fact the reality in which the Arab World has been living for the past 63 years. However, the fact that PM Cameron said this directly to Arab students, in an Arab country, is very significant.


What is probably more significant however, is that the Gulf Times, the national newspaper of Qatar that is owned by Emir Khalifa ath-Thani, did not mention this important bit of information in its coverage of the event.

Cameron was quoted promoting democracy:

“I’m a democrat.  I believe in democracy.  I believe in freedom and human rights and I believe in the building blocks of democracy; a free society, an independent judiciary, the rights of free speech and free association,”


But when it came to his remarks on Israel being used as a scapegoat, something dictators were using to distract their populations from their own ineptitude, they were nowhere to be found.


So the Qatari royals don't mind Cameron promoting democracy as long as they can cover up his expose of their best weapon at containing it.


What wonderful Mashriq Madness!