Middle East studies in the Middle East

Submitted by Norvell DeAtkine (United States), Jul 8, 2011 at 12:41

Very interesting article and certainly nothing I can disagree with.

I think the military sector of Middle East studies has moved very deeply into the "trendy" phase as you put it. There seems to have been a feeling among movers and shakers in the military that our military was too narrow/essentialist/whatever in our approach to the Middle East. The academic community viewed the military as Knuckle draggers with simple far right viewpoints, The new aspiring military leadership, based partly on the wholesale purchase of the "hearts and minds" approach to insurgent warfare sought out the leftish academics, especially those of the Edward Said cult, and to prove they weren't really bad neocons, and were a cut above the previously less scholarly endowed leaders, invited them to teach our men and officers. There has been an emphasis on PHD's, all deeply imbued with the correct political orientation.

Our Foreign area officers attend many universities with the Saidist approach to the Middle East........ embued with the viewpoint that If it's bad there in the ME. it is because the Zionists or us made it so. Take a look at the recommended reading lists by the various military leadership. The Arab Mind is now universally held in contempt as "stereotypical" but most will have the various tomes by Edward Said. At an army unit social ball last year, the orthodox left-winger Juan Cole was the featured speaker....mostly because of an invitation by an house civilian PHD academic section which is typical of what I have described above.

Having taught for many years in the military I am all for studying the other side, Unlike many of the so called "academic experts" I have enjoyed living in the Middle East for many years and have very fond feelings for the peoples of the region so poorly served by their leaders, and the journalists and academics who enable the dysfuntionality of their societies. It is absolutely essential to understand the culture of friends and enemies but there is a very important difference between studying and trying to understand the "others" and teaching or implying that somehow we are in the wrong and our culture is inferior…or that patriotism is simplistic and subject to eye rolling condescension at elitist cocktail parties.

I could go on and this is all very anecdotal I know, but it is just my feelings based what I see and hear over the past few years, and thought it may be of interest

Regards,

Tex DeAtkine

Colonel ( Us army retired)

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