Naeem's Blog

So I'm watching a BBC report on the Prince Bandar bribe scandal where he supposedly took $2 billion in bribes while helping BAE systems win a huge $80 billion contract with the Saudi Air Force. It seems that a special BBC probe determined that there indeed was some fouplay between the former Saudi ambassador to the US and the UK military contractor, explaining why the UK government abruptly halted the investigation last December citing 'national security considerations'.

And I'm wondering to myself what's the big deal? Then I'm wondering, did I just say that? Then I'm wondering, why am I talking to myself?

Once I shake out of it, I start to realize that this bribery scandal is revealing on so many levels. Besides the obvious observation on the sad state of our leadership, it exposes a fundamental sickness plaguing the Muslim masses - we have become so accustomed to their corruption that we have ceased to hold them accountable, which in turn has lead to the ummah's loss of self-accountability, on a collective as well as individual basis.

Ever since its original revelation several months ago, the news of Bandar stealing billions has raised no flags in Saudi society. Forget about the government controlled media - not even the people have expressed disgust. As a matter of fact, I've spoken to several Saudis who have accepted as fact that the Royal family takes upto one third of the country's oil revenues (hundreds of billions of dollars) for their high maintenance lifestyle.

And since it is acceptable for our leaders to indulge, it must be ok for us goes the reasoning on the street. The layman's logic is pretty straightforward: If I tolerate corruption in my leaders, then I can rationalize it in my own actions. And conversely, if I speak out against the corruption of my leaders, then I too must cease to partake in it.

Of course, its not only Saudi Arabia - same goes for [fill in Muslim state]. From the Prime Minister/President down to the local utilities worker, bribes and corruption have kept these countries from moving forward. Sadly, Muslims as a whole have come to expect and accept corruption from their leaders.

But not in the West. There is so much more governmental oversight and inquiry that the Muslim world is simply put to shame. The checks and balances placed in their system, warts and all, far outshines anything available in the Muslim east.

I just can't forget the outrage that took place in the US over the NSA wiretapping. I'm sure most Muslims thought nothing of it, especially those originating from Muslim countries. Such machinations are expected from Muslim governments (read Mukhabarat), but the normal American won't tolerate such governmental intrusions.

And don't forget the current Gonzales attorney-general firing scandal. And then there's Plamegate. And the list goes on. Holding high-level government officials accountable is an enviable hallmark of western society.

(Sidenote: Some will counter that these are mere dog and pony shows to present the semblance of governmental culpability while the reality is that nothing is ever done to punish the wrongdoers. Perhaps true and that facade may in fact be worse than the outright corruption found in Muslim countries, but that is fodder for another post.)

I'm also reminded of the 2000 US presidential elections when the election results were up in the air for months, yet the country didn't miss a beat. Such a major controversy, deciding the fate of its national leader, hung in the balance for months and civil order was maintained all throughout. Amazing. Imagine if that were to have occurred in any Muslim country - rioting and looting would have become the daily norm.

I guess its all about respect for the rule of law. They have it. We don't.

Worse yet, we end up respecting the law selectively. When in the West, many will follow the rules, but the moment we step off the plane back home, we return to the ways of the mob rule. On second thought, forget traveling overseas - have you ever noticed how Muslims park in Masjid parking lots compared to elsewhere? My point exactly.

This double standard reminds me of Saudi driving. The highway fatality rate here is among the highest in the world. Saudis are notorious for their reckless driving and their indifference to the law, yet when they cross over to Bahrain or UAE, they become docile drivers, keen to obey every traffic law. That's because they know they'll be held accountable for their infractions - over there it doesn't matter who you know, what you drive, or how you look, the law is the law across the border.

I find it repulsive that we Muslims have allowed ourselves to degenerate to the levels of our treacherous leaders by turning a blind eye to their cronyism while turning a second blind eye to our own trangressions. Two blind eyes make for a very blind ummah.

The problem is truly within us.

And then we have the audacity to claim that the problem lies with our leaders, as if the mere act of replacing them will remove the infestation within us. It will not. We claim that if we cut off the head of the snake it will die. It will not.

Because our leaders are not like the head of the snake. They are more like the tail of the lizard. Cut off the tail and another will grow. More importantly, the lizard will always remain. We the masses are the lizard.

We blame them for controlling us with their iron fists. We blame the West for supporting them with their political backing. We blame the IMF and the World Bank for financing them. We blame and we blame.

But we never blame ourselves for failing to hold them accountable. And we never blame ourselves for failing to hold *ourselves* accountable.

We have become lizards.