(Washington Post) - All of Egypt, and much of the Arab world, is talking about the Egyptian satellite channel Dream TV's 41-part historical drama featuring the "Protocols of the Elders of Zion," the infamous anti-Semitic forgery used by czarist Russia and Nazi Germany to justify pogroms and genocide. Mubarak's poisonous tactics are causing increasing harm to American interests in the Middle East. Thanks to satellite television and the Internet, the hate speech of Egypt's writers and broadcasters - most of them government employees - is spreading around the region. A recent Gallup poll showed that most residents of the Middle East do not blame Osama bin Laden for the 9/11 attacks, and many believe Jews were responsible - another libel Mr. Mubarak's media have helped to spread. Fundamental hatred of Jews, as opposed to opposition to Israeli policies, is playing a growing role in mainstream Arab politics. Hosni Mubarak's Egypt still is receiving $2 billion annually in U.S. subsidies, more than democratic Turkey, Indonesia, and Afghanistan combined. The Bush administration is saying that the promotion of free speech, religious tolerance, and human rights will be at the center of its efforts to transform the Middle East and combat radical Islam, but has yet to reconcile its policy with its budget. Perhaps Congress can help.
2002-11-15 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive