Word: gacem
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PREDICTABLY, Mr. Ben-Gacem's failure to reason beyond the bounds of the Pan-Arabist discourse leads him to the tenuous conclusion that Arabs sympathetic to Saddam's destructive Pan-Arabism "never betrayed" the Kuwaitis; rather, they simply followed a "fake" version of the doctrine...
...examination of Mr. Ben-Gacem's own argument supports Mr. El-Jeaan's assertion that Pan-Arab nationalism has become a nightmare for many Arabs. Moreover, an examination of attitudes toward Pan-Arabism among the Arab masses suggests that, even before the war, it was not the all-consuming orthodoxy that Mr. Ben-Gacem conjures...
...altogether surprising that Mr. Ben-Gacem's rhetorical strategy (or the lack thereof) betrays a certain ambiguity about the nature and value of "Arabism." Although he claims to have felt "tremendous shock and pain" upon reading Mr. El-Jeaan's proclamation, "I am not an Arab" (of course not a literal rejection of his Arab heritage, but rather a rhetorical attack on the Pan-Arab dream wholly consonant with the thematics of his argument), Mr. Ben-Gacem concludes that "it doesn't matter to us" if he rejoins "the Arab family...
...Gacem succinctly summarizes this objectionable mode of thinking: "I consider you my brother, as long as you have the same force (sic) and enthusiasm to reestablish the lost Arab pride." (read: "nationalism"). Quite simply, this sort of language, typical of the Pan-Arab movement, functions as a tool of political and intellectual oppression. Consequently, it is no wonder, and hardly a matter of regret, that Mr. El-Jeaan has chosen to opt out of this questionable enterprise...
...then, are the Arab masses to distinguish between 'good' and 'bad' Pan-Arabism? After all, Saddam's promises match point for point Mr. Ben-Gacem's nationalistic program: to emphasize the Arabs' "common traditions, common language, common history, common culture and common feelings" (all dubious concepts) and thus "unite together one day...to restore our pride and our lost throne...