I watched the debates as well! The speakers representing McCain seemed terribly unprepared especially Danielle Pletka.

There is no doubt that the Doha debates create a unique forum for free speech in the Middle East and I think they also work to stimulate public opinion in the region - something that seems seriously lacking at times.

Hi Mona,
I watched Obama's Full Speach with BBC this morning in Jaffa, It was amazing.
But I want to point out one thing he said.
Not to be Cynical!
Us in the Middle East
have to Learn that.
Good Day Friend Mona.

Hi Mona,
I watched Obama's Full Speach with BBC this morning in Jaffa, It was amazing.
But I want to point out one thing he said.
Not to be Cynical!
Us in the Middle East
have to Learn that.
Good Day Friend Mona.

Watched it. It was interesting. Mr. Sebastian is a good challenger of soft-ball interview targets.

You forgot to mention that this the same state of Qatar that, according to the American version of the story, is the base and funder of the "terrorist supporting" Al Jazeera TV....the same Al-Jazeera that was targeted by U.S. forces in Iraq for telling the truth, as their reporters were killed by American forces in Iraq, and the same TV station that has (had?) one of its camera men in Guantanamo (Sami Al-Haj)for several years.

In reality, just about all of its staff, especially its English channel, are hired en mass from BBC and CNN around the world and given more editorial freedom than they had back in their previous jobs.

Qatar is trying to break taboos.

This is an interesting forum, and a promising incremental development for freedom of speech and civic life in the Gulf, but in some ways no different than the debates on Arab satellite TV and even on some national TV stations (e.g. Jordan and Moroccan state television) in the region. Foreign policy issues have always been kind of a safety valve for the press to express themselves. Also, the foundation mentioned in the article isn't exactly "private" if it's chaired by Sheikha Mozah. This is a "royal NGO" or "RONGO," which are royally sanctioned and usually patronized; this gives them a certain scope but also places limitations.