Professor: Middle East policies need scrutiny

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Tom Mullen speaks at Dalton State College on American policy in the Middle East. Misty Watson/The Daily Citizen

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February 3, 2012

Rachel Brown rachelbrown@daltoncitizen.com The Dalton Daily Citizen Fri Feb 03, 2012, 06:52 AM EST

The United States’ policy in dealing with countries in the Middle East has, for the most part, been an “uneasy encounter,” according to a Dalton State College professor who spoke on the subject recently.

Tom Mullen, associate professor of political science, spoke on “America and the Middle East: Today and Tomorrow” at one of the DSC Foundation’s monthly “Lunch and Learn” events in which members of the public are invited to listen to and ask questions of a faculty member on topics of the day.

Mullen, who has lectured in or visited more than a dozen foreign countries including several in the Middle East, said the United States’ policy in dealing with many of those countries isn’t always equal. Cuba, for example, is more democratic than Saudi Arabia, he said, but since the Caribbean country isn’t home to a large oil supply, U.S. officials are on less friendly terms with the government there than they are with Saudi Arabia’s absolute monarchy.

Then there is the “perennial question” of Palestine and Israel, he said. One important fact most Americans probably don’t know is that Israel has numerous nuclear weapons, Mullen said. He said most Republican presidential candidates aren’t even questioning the United States’ continued support of Israel in the ongoing turf war.

Ron Paul, he said, is the only candidate who has pointed out Israel has between 200 and 300 nuclear warheads and is capable of defending itself without U.S. intervention, and he’s the only one “who says, ‘Let’s talk about this. Let’s have a debate.’”

“I’m not just giving a brief on Paul, but he’s the only one who’s saying it,” Mullen said.

Despite criticisms levied against President Barack Obama, Republican opponent John McCain’s policies would have involved the country in many more conflicts, he added.

“I think we should be thankful that there’s at least some restraint at the top,” he said.

Cynthia LaVelle-Pahl, who was one of about 20 people participating in the Lunch and Learn earlier this week, said she enjoys learning about various issues.

“I think we’ve always made mistakes (in dealing with Israel and other Middle Eastern countries), and I think he’s absolutely right as far as the Senate and the House go. There’s no one who would oppose the prevailing policy,” she said.

The next Lunch and Learn will be Feb. 15 from noon to 1 p.m. at Dalton State’s James E. Brown Center. Jonathan Lampley, assistant professor of English, will speak on “The Oscars: Winners, Losers and Weird Moments.” Cost is $10. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (706) 272-4473.

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Professor: Middle East policies need scrutiny

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