The Foreign Service Journal, March 2003

world. He also says Powell deserves credit for containing or standing up to the strongly-worded rhetoric of the extreme right in Washington that the U.S. should impose a strict formula for change in the Muslim world regard- less of the reaction or attitude of Arabs and Muslims in each country. Nevertheless, there is a strong conviction in the Middle East that Powell has failed to take the initiative to formulate, rather than simply implement, U.S. poli- cy. He has been kept on the defensive by the adminis- tration’s hawks, giving the control and shaping of U.S. policy to other circles in the administration. For that reason, while Powell is a familiar face on the streets of Arab and Muslim countries, it is difficult to distinguish between the growing anti-American sen- timent and the way Powell, the U.S. top diplomat, is being seen in the Middle East. In a country like Egypt, the average citizen can easily recognize the ex-general. They know him as a militaryman, but do not harbour grudges against him for that. But the course of events over the past two years has in some way or another affected Powell’s popularity and credibility among Arabs and Muslims. “I notice a shift in Powell’s performance. For some time he opposed President Bush’s unacceptable poli- cies toward the Middle East. No longer. Now he is part and parcel of this policy. It seems he is either con- tradicting himself or he has made of himself a sell-out,” says Sameh Salah, an Egyptian translator. With the spectre of a potential war looming large in the Middle East, it is very much expected that the State Department hold on foreign policy will weaken even fur- ther. Once the war erupts, most of the administration’s cards will be in the hands of the Department of Defense and the National Security Council. Once calls of “let’s protect America against foreign dangers” and “we need to support the army during wartime and speak as one” dom- inate the scene, the Department of State’s voice will hard- ly be heard. During wartime, it is unpatriotic to differ and un-American to be diplomatic, it seems. F O C U S 36 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / M A R C H 2 0 0 3 Home Suite Home The next time you’re going to be in DC for an extended stay, make yourself at home at Georgetown Suites. With our discounted monthly rates and large, comfortable suites, you’ll feel right at home. Plus we’re near the State Department. Call today! Georgetown Suites the fun place to stay in DC 1-800-348-7203 www.georgetownsuites.com sales@georgetownsuites.com t ti ’r i t i f r t t , r lf t t r t it . it r i t t l r t l r , f rt l it , ’ll f l ri t t . l ’r r t t t rt t. ll t ! t 1-800-348-7203 . r t it . l r t it . m