Rewriting History 101
airbrushing the middle east: iraq never had free elections
May 22, 2012 - 8:14 am
I’m reading the NYTimes, masquerading as the International Herald Tribune, and on the front page there is an article about the Egyptian elections, which Timesmen David Kirkpatrick and Mayy el Sheik call “the first competitive presidential election in the history of the Arab world.”
NOT. Iraq did that. But somehow, memories don’t go that far back. At least in the NY Times…
I suppose every journalism school of note now has a required course in “rewriting history.”
It’s also an assumption that the ancient Egyptians were Arabs. Their statues look a little more Asian than anything.
Nevermind.
Actually Iraq does not have Presidential elections since the President is voted to the office by Iraq’s parliament. As with most parliamentary systems the President is a ceremonial office in Iraq. Yes the NY Times is correct the Presidential election in Egypt will be the first competitive election for a President in the Arab world.
Calling this “the first competitive presidential election in the history of the Arab world” is loaded with unintended humor. Mostly because the Arab world’s version of “competitive” is to make sure gays, women, Christians and anyone with even one parent with dual-citizenship is legally excluded from this “competition” in Egypt.
In other words, the race scene in “The Dictator” is stunningly accurate.