Ex-CIA official speaks about Muslim culture
By Katrina Tollin, Daily Texan Staff
Published: Thursday, January 27, 2011
Published: Thursday, January 27, 2011
Fanny Trang | Daily Texan Staff
Graham Fuller, author of “A World Without Islam” and former National Intelligence Council vice chairman, gave a speech on Tuesday evening. The event was organized by the Islamic Dialogue Student Association and discussed Fuller’s conclusions about the role religions play in conflicts.
A former senior CIA official discussed the cultural differences between the Muslim world and the West at a book signing Wednesday.
Graham Fuller, former CIA National Intelligence Council vice chairman and a political analyst on Muslim-Western relations, spoke with students and members of the community at the UTC to discuss his newest book, “A World Without Islam,” at an event hosted by the Islamic Dialogue Student Association and The Institute for Interfaith Dialog.
The differences between the two cultures are not based on religion at all, Fuller said, but on a broad spectrum of other differences such as land rights, competition for resources and politics.
“If the problem is Islam, it’s in the Muslim world and the war will go on for a very long time because we have to change their culture and it has nothing to do with us here in the West,” Fuller said.
Tensions between the cultures would almost certainly exist even in the absence of a religious difference, Fuller said. Because of this, it is necessary for the United States to change its policies dealing with the Muslim world, Fuller said.
“American troop involvement is the biggest source of anguish and anger in the Muslim world,” Fuller said. “I do not believe there is a military solution.”
One student offered an opinion of his own.
“[Muslims] suffer from labeling, especially after September 11th,” said Mustafa Erten, a civil engineering graduate student.
The event was a good attempt by the IDSA to clarify political issues, Erten said.
“It is crucial for dialogue between Muslims and other religions. [The event] was very important for discourse,” said IDSA vice president Ahmed Atik. “We are more similar than different.”
“It is crucial for dialogue between Muslims and other religions. [The event] was very important for discourse,” said IDSA vice president Ahmed Atik. “We are more similar than different.”
In addition to his experience with the CIA council, Fuller has also worked as CIA station chief in Kabul and authored critical research which lead in part to the Iran-Contra affair. He currently holds positions as senior political analyst for the RAND Corporation and as an adjunct faculty member at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada.
