Found this great editorial in Arab News. It makes the point that so many of the problems the Middle East has endured over the last fifty years are now solveable, if the people of the region want to solve them:

We should have seen such problems as a challenge — a challenge to develop and modernize our society within the parameters of Islam. Instead, we did the opposite. We started chanting slogans and singing songs of yesteryear, in praise of past glories.

If there is to be progress in the Arab world, the intelligentsia must stop gazing at the past in the futile hope that it can solve the problems of the present. Yes, we should study history because if we don’t we are condemned to repeat it.

But our tragedy has been that we have been looking history straight in the face out of the very corner of our eyes. We have yet to confront the harsh facts of our history. Only when we do can we confront the challenges of the 21st century.

Throughout the past 40 years the focus was on political intimidation. The media played a crucial role in acting as a screen that blinded the people from the harsh realities of life.

The people too grew indifferent, becoming lethargic instead of fighting for their rights. As a result tyrants like Saddam Hussein — goaded by superpowers into regional adventurism — attacked other countries and oppressed their own people.

The absence of the rule of law, lack of accountability and absolute rule over an intimidated public disrupted any social or economic progress. Thus while other countries progressed, the Arab world with its brimming coffers became mired in Third World status.

One of the most intelligent things I’ve read from that region in a long time. Let’s hope this is the kind of stuff we start to hear more often.