It's not what's said behind closed doors that counts.

Submitted by Robert (United States), Dec 2, 2022 at 18:49

Dear Dr. Daniel Pipes,

I think you have written another significant observation, particularly regarding the Middle East. With dictatorships, autocracies, kingdoms, it's what the masses think that counts, especially when they may fall anytime. And what the masses think is mirrored in the state-censored journalism of the particular regime. The regime needs to deal with others through their diplomatic core or through direct head of government or state communications.

This is very different from what is the case among Western democracies, which are much more in tune with their voting electorate.

But there is a glaring exception when the autocracy is not in the Middle East - Russia under Putin. Putin tells the world exactly what he wants for Russia and uses the weapons of war to impose the will of Russia (= Putin).

That's why your analysis of the Middle East here is revealing. But there are 2 other phenomena that, perhaps, you have overlooked here.

(1) In the Middle East political statements are published in Arabic and in the other important Western language, primarily English. So if one wants to know what the position or policy is, one ought to read the Arabic version.

(2) I recall you discussing elsewhere the issue of honesty or lying by s Muslim (particularly Arab) Muslim to a non-Muslim is is not a part of the Umma of Islam. In brief, what promotes Islam takes priority over truthfulness.

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".