Mike PouraryanHaim Saban: The Savior of the Middle East?
February 15th 2010 06:53
Haim Saban is an interesting character. He built his fortune in Media and has thereafter channeled his considerable fortune for causes he believes in. His focus is Israel. He believes in Israel and works to promote Israel every which way he can. That's commendable. But, his posturing to be an honest broker leaves a bit to be desired.
In a very insightful posting by the Al Jazeera's Marwan Bishrawa, there was a very detailed expose about Saban. The Middle East Center he helped found and underwrites at Brookings is positioning itself as an honest broker and a bridge with the Muslim Community. The problem is that the principal backer is someone who is a chief backer for Extreme Right-Wing Israeli Causes. The current director, Ken Pollack, was one of the guys who was among the cheerleaders for the fiasco that is commonly known as the Iraq War. Pollack fashions himself as a Middle East Analyst and is totally clueless about the realities on the ground in the Arab World. I have to wonder why does such a man have so much influence over the conduct of U.S. Foreign Policy in the MIddle East?
The key statement that Bisharwa noted was this: "..Imagine a Saudi-Financed, Pro Hamas Think Tank running U.S. Jewish Dialogue...". If that was in fact the case, one has to wonder what the reaction of the die-hard Israeli right-wingers will be to this while the rhetoric against Iran continues to heat up and while the Middle East continues to be in turmoil in large measure due to the inflexible posturing going on.
Secretary Clinton is in the Middle East right now drumming up support to counter Iran. General Jones also came out with the ultimate objective of regime change in Iran. The pathetic nature of the regime in Iran is something that I have commented on extensively here and in KP's sister site, Outsider Views. But, what I worry about is whether such public pronouncements are clouded by such pro-Israeli think tanks such as the Saban Center.
Saban has a right to do whatever he wants with his money. But, it should not be in a position to infuence policy to the extent that it has because his position as an honest broker is suspect at best. I have to wonder if State Department Policy Makers understand that.
In a very insightful posting by the Al Jazeera's Marwan Bishrawa, there was a very detailed expose about Saban. The Middle East Center he helped found and underwrites at Brookings is positioning itself as an honest broker and a bridge with the Muslim Community. The problem is that the principal backer is someone who is a chief backer for Extreme Right-Wing Israeli Causes. The current director, Ken Pollack, was one of the guys who was among the cheerleaders for the fiasco that is commonly known as the Iraq War. Pollack fashions himself as a Middle East Analyst and is totally clueless about the realities on the ground in the Arab World. I have to wonder why does such a man have so much influence over the conduct of U.S. Foreign Policy in the MIddle East?
The key statement that Bisharwa noted was this: "..Imagine a Saudi-Financed, Pro Hamas Think Tank running U.S. Jewish Dialogue...". If that was in fact the case, one has to wonder what the reaction of the die-hard Israeli right-wingers will be to this while the rhetoric against Iran continues to heat up and while the Middle East continues to be in turmoil in large measure due to the inflexible posturing going on.
Secretary Clinton is in the Middle East right now drumming up support to counter Iran. General Jones also came out with the ultimate objective of regime change in Iran. The pathetic nature of the regime in Iran is something that I have commented on extensively here and in KP's sister site, Outsider Views. But, what I worry about is whether such public pronouncements are clouded by such pro-Israeli think tanks such as the Saban Center.
Saban has a right to do whatever he wants with his money. But, it should not be in a position to infuence policy to the extent that it has because his position as an honest broker is suspect at best. I have to wonder if State Department Policy Makers understand that.
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