Sam Husseini: Obama gave his recent speech towards the Middle East. He didn’t mention Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia barely came up in your discussion—only in terms of fighting Al Quaeda did it come up in your discussion right now with Christiane Amanpour. Do you think the lack of discussion of meaningful democracy in places like Saudi Arabia an example of what’s been called the Mausher Doctrine, that ‘don’t worry, everything is alright.’ It’s been coined by Chomsky and attributed to you. Why this incredible blind-spot? Can the U.S. have meaningful credibility?
MM: We’ve seen different reactions to the crisis in different Arab countries. Some of them, such as in the Gulf, are trying to react to this through economic financial means. What I believe is that this is a political issue, this is an issue about the low levels of government that exists in many Arab countries, and people aren’t going to basically accept a solution that is purely economic. There is a need to address this through a serious opening up of the system, a serious reform process. For the United States obviously, which has followed the policy of prioritizing stability over democracy for many decades, switching to a policy that pursues stability through reform rather than stability over reform is not proving to be a very easy process. As we have seen in the relationship between the Saudis and the U.S., there are interests still involved. That is the issue of oil, the issue of Iran. You’re going to find more cases in the future, I think, where the issue of interests, will, at least in the short run, be prioritized over reform.
SH: As you know there were protests by Palestinian refugees today and an international flotilla of ships is headed to Gaza in June to protest the Israeli blockade. The New York Times reported this week the flotilla will include an American ship, the Audacity of Hope, 25 percent of the passengers of which are Jewish. The Israeli government has vowed to stop the flotilla by any means. What’s your view of the flotilla, the threatened Israeli response, and should the United States attempt to ensure the free passage of the flotilla.
I think there’s a feeling of empowerment in the Arab state today that’s finding its way to the Palestinian state. In other words, the feeling of powerlessness that has permeated in the Arab world for so long is no longer there. And I think the Palestinian state will not stay silent if there are no sort of serious moves to end the Arab-Israeli conflict. I expect, frankly, more of these moves to take place, particularly after September when the issue of recognizing the Palestinian state will go before the United Nations. And I think there is a new feeling in the Arab world that is shifting from a feeling that the United States holds all the cards and needs to resolve the conflict, something that I agree with. You’re seeing a shift towards a feeling that the street can affect peaceful change in a way that has not been done before.
SH: Final question: American politicians often brag about Israel being the only democracy in the Middle East and talk about their “shared values” and “unshakeable commitment,” absent such assertions in dealing with Jordan or when referring to Jordan. Is it because of the absence of constitutional democracy, or for other reasons?
MM: Well Jordan is a case where the monarchy enjoys wide legitimacy unlike some of the other countries that we have seen. There is no one in the opposition today in Jordan calling for the overthrow of the monarchy. What is being called for is a reform of the system, including sometimes some of the monarchy’s authority. And I think that in places in Jordan, which does enjoy time [sic], that this time will be a serious reform process. Jordan has taken some moves towards opening up the system and the hope that they will continue with such moves. I think a measure of seriousness that people are looking for, not just in Jordan, but across the Arab world, is a process that leads to power sharing and stronger legislative and judicial bodies. A process in other words that would dilute the dominant executive power that exists in the Arab world.
Some obvious issues with what Mausher is saying: Of course the Palestinian intifadas were popular struggles to change things, but they are omitted here. And of course he has been in the Jordanian regime and is clearly sympathetic to it.
[originally published on Washington Stakeout on June 6, 2011; posted on posthaven Nov. 13, 2015]