Saudi- Experts' wrong approach

(MENAFN- Arab News) I read with interest the article 'A case of poor understanding' (July 7) by Ramzy Baroud. The writer has highlighted an important issue which is the root cause of many problems in this world. A poor understanding of Islam and Muslims studying the current situation of the Muslim world in isolation without considering the historical background is a flawed approach toward understanding the current situation of the Middle East and the wider Muslim world. A century or so ago western scholars used to heavily rely on orientalists. That approach painted a very strange picture of the Muslim world as most if not all of the orientalists' view of Islam was heavily tainted. However today due to advancements in technology one just needs the will to understand a culture with full sincerity. Unfortunately we don't find that sincerity among the western experts.
We cannot rule out the assumptions that the so-called Arab Spring was engineered and not as spontaneous as we are led to believe. Whatever the case may be the current crises are the result of the lopsided and selfish policies of the colonial era. While studying the present to make plans for future one cannot ignore any aspect of the past. Today the West blames Islam and its ideology without taking into consideration its own role in the Middle East. Iraqis did not invite the United States to help them get rid of Saddam Hussein.
Having said that I wish to clarify that I am not trying to justify Hussein's dictatorship. Following the invasion of Iraq as pointed out by Ramzy Baroud the wrong policies of the US-led administration of Iraq only widened the existing schism between various sects and communities in Iraq. I think the western governments should try their best not to create a mess in other countries by interfering in their domestic matters. As for the western aid offered to various countries it should be purely economic in nature. We need more writers like Baroud whose analyses help enlighten one's mind without radicalizing the thought process. Lala Jeddah