The Profession of Death

By Ethel C. Fenig

Barry Rubin, editor of the Middle East Review of International Affairs, asks Who killed Benazir Bhutto? And then clearly answers

The Sami Shawkat philosophy: alike in its Arab nationalist, Islamist, and Pakistani authoritarian versions, which dominate Middle East politics.

And what is this philosophy?

in 1933, Iraqi official Sami Shawkat gave a talk which became one of the most famous texts of Arab nationalism. "There is something more important than money and learning for preserving the honor of a nation and for keeping humiliation at bay," he stated. "That is strength... strength, as I use the word here, means to excel in the Profession of Death."

What, you might ask, was Shawkat's own profession? He was director-general of Iraq's Ministry of Education. This was how young people were to be taught and directed; this is where Saddam Hussein came from. Seventy-five years later, the subsequent history of Iraq and the rest of the Arab world shows just how well Shawkat did his job.

Get it? The radical forces in the region are not expecting to retain or gain power by negotiating, compromising, or being better understood. They believe they are going to shoot their way into power or, just as good, accept the surrender of those they have intimidated.

That is why so much of the Western analysis and strategies for dealing with the region are a bad joke. Osama bin Laden understands that, as he once said, people are going to back the strongest horse in the race. Yet according to all too many people in the Western elites, the way to win is to be the nicest horse.

However

For those who love death, the reward is death. For those who love life, the outcomes include decent educational systems, living standards, individual rights, and strong economic systems.

And isn't it interesting that, contrary to Shawkat, the nations that put the priority on these things enjoy far more honor and suffer far less humiliation than happens with his model.

The profession of death has wrecked most Middle Eastern societies. But it has never succeeded in defeating a free society. It is not an effective tactic for destroying others, only for devastating one's own people.