Article

2007-02-22 Arabia

American education thriving ... in Qatar

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Posted by Steve White 2007-02-22 00:00|| || Front Page|| [6 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 There have been American University campuses in Cairo, Beirut, and I think in Jordan for the better part of half a century. In comparison to the Qatar effort, I b'lieve those were established and funded by the US government, and quietly did much good.

Posted by trailing wife 2007-02-22 02:04|| 2007-02-22 02:04|| Front Page Top

#2 In Iraq, we were laboring long and hard to avoid doing the obvious thing: siting the new American U. up north in Kurdistan, the only area with the security and sanity to make a reasonable location. I found it amusing - but of course as with all such things there were some Americans who were terrified of offending Iraqi Arabs. And also of course, the Iraqi Arab employees who were asked thought it made perfect sense to put the thing up north, the concept of being "offended" didn't really seem to cross their minds.

Posted by Verlaine 2007-02-22 02:28|| 2007-02-22 02:28|| Front Page Top

#3 the concept of being "offended" didn't really seem to cross their minds.
Are you certain they were Arabs?

Posted by Shipman 2007-02-22 07:12|| 2007-02-22 07:12|| Front Page Top

#4 It seems to me that Baghdad has plenty of universities, colleges, etc and so forth already. Siting the American U. in Kurdistan where it would be most appreciated -- and safest for the students -- makes sense to me. Where did they end up putting it, Verlaine?

Posted by trailing wife 2007-02-22 07:13|| 2007-02-22 07:13|| Front Page Top

#5 United Arab Emirates are also on a big hiring spree for university-level faculty in engineering, computer science, architecture and a few other disciplines.

Re: universities in Iraq, building an American Univ. isn't the only way to influence things there. For instance, faculty from Baghdad Univ. and Sulymaniya Univ. have been coming to the US for 3-month-long sabbaticals and in some cases for an academic year, since 2003. Host schools have included Harvard & West Point. Kurds as well as Arabs, women as well as men.

Posted by occasional observer 2007-02-22 09:35|| 2007-02-22 09:35|| Front Page Top

#6 Call me when there's a McDonald's (who serves the McRib) and a Starbucks on every corner. Then, we'll talk "globalization" buddy.

Posted by BA 2007-02-22 10:14|| 2007-02-22 10:14|| Front Page Top

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