(this was published in June 23rd, 2010)

By Daoud Kuttab

Media and governments have always had a love-hate relationship. While they both need each other, the attempts by one to overwhelm the other (especially when governments try to control media) have often led to unpleasant results.If one agrees that both want what is best for the country, then it is imperative that the executive power and the fourth estate respect the independence of one another. However, if there is lack of trust in the fundamental goal, then the outcome puts into question the country’s long term outlook.

Wanting what is best for the country means that governments are working on plans that take into consideration the needs and aspirations of all sectors of society without favoritism. On the other hand, the media must understand that wanting the best for the country means that they need to avoid knee-jerk positions or partisan editorial policies. Continue Reading »

(This was published in June 16th, 2010)

By Daoud Kuttab

The visitor from Washington, who represented an independent democracy foundation, asked two questions to a group of Jordanian intellectuals: “Where do you see the potential for genuine reform in Jordan and the Arab region? If we were to fund any particular group which would it be?  As expected, initial responses focused on the blame game. The United States is not honest in its push for democracy in the region, an Islamist media activist said. His fact-based argument made some sense. He related how the Americans talk about reform only as long as it doesn’t affect their special relationships with rulers in the region. Continue Reading »

(This was published in June 9th, 2010)

By Daoud Kuttab

One of the most repeated questions that was asked by many following the attack on the Gaza bound humanitarian flotilla was why did Israel do that? Why did a very powerful army and navy who can easily have controlled the situation in the high seas need to carry out a commando raid that ended up with the death of nine internationals one of whom was an American citizen? Continue Reading »

(This was published in June 7th, 2010)

By Daoud Kuttab

The Israeli attack on the Gaza-bound “Freedom Flotilla” has put the United States in a difficult position. But it has also given Washington an opening for a game-changing action. When ships on a humanitarian mission to the besieged Gaza Strip were violently confronted in international waters, the Obama administration was faced with a choice between one strategic ally, Israel, and a larger international community centered on a key NATO ally, Turkey. The United States also has to be careful to protect fragile Palestinian-Israeli proximity talks that took U.S. envoy George Mitchell over a year to get started. Both Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas were due to visit Washington within a week of the confrontation, which left nine peace activists dead, including an American. Continue Reading »