§1 Edward Saïd’s Orientalism

„Orientalism [is] a Western style for dominating, restructuring, and having authority over the Orient.” With these words Edward Saïd characterizes a phenomenon that, according to him, is foundational to Western modernity: the discursive construction of the Orient as the Other of European civilization (named Occident) as a mode of self-definition by constantly contrasting itself against it. Following Saïd, Orientalism was far from being “an airy European fantasy about the Orient,” but “created a body of theory and practice in which, for many generations, there has been a considerable material investment.” It created a “system of knowledge”29 that became hegemonic in European culture, defining “Us” (the Europeans, the civilized) in contrast to “Them” (the Orientals, the uncivilized) as being their superiors.“*

*Provincializing the United States. Colonialism, Decolonization, and (Post)Colonial Governance in Transnational Perspective, edited by Ursula Lehmkuhl, Eva Bischoff and Norbert Finzsch, S. 16.

§2 Wars in Western Asia

The Wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria were the crown failures of the West. The incompetence to avoid two civil wars in Iraq (2006-2009 & 2014-2017) after promising stability in 2003 as well as the withdrawal from Rojava (Syrian Kurdistan) letting Erdogan invading in 2019 and the catastrophically retreat from Afghanistan (2020-2021) shows it clearly. The uran munition used since 1990 in (Ex-)Yugoslavia and the Middle-East (see: S.-H. Günther’s film about the children of Basra) as well as the mass torture in Iraq (see: torture made in USA) are horrible crimes which should be enough to bring the leaders Bush and Blair before a war tribunal. We Westerners need a new Middle-Eastern policy. 1) Palestinian refugees should have cities under blue-helm security control and Palestinian civil authority. The Palestinian President should became guaratees from the UN for a social security for his people. Israel should keep/developp a dialogue with the Palestinian civil society and politicians. 2) Iraq has a fractured society which will not easily be united without profound changes. 3) Afghanistan has a Taliban-pariah government, which will only be accepted internationally if its included women in political, economical and social life. In return for the end of international isolation, the Afghans could receive economical support. 4) The Syrian regime is now under influence from Russia and Iran and Lebanon is under influence of Iran and Saudi-Arabia. These two States should be more independent from foreign powers.

Julien Sita, August, 24th 2022.