Berg’s death augurs ill for Arab societies

How quickly events in the Middle East overtake what was yesterday's headlines. For the last week or so the world has been stunned by revelations that US and coalition troops have abused Iraqi prisoners in their custody. The world was revolted at the images of mistreatment meted out in Saddam Hussein's torture chambers in Abu Ghraib prison, now maintained by new masters - the American military.

Now, even more shocking images are circulating in the public domain: a video and still shots of the beheading of an American civilian by anti-US Iraqi insurgents. On a purely human level, there seems no limit, and no end, to the horror and brutality of the post-invasion conflict now taking shape in Iraq. But there are other implications and other messages in the barbaric and ultimately foolish execution of Nick Berg.

Firstly, the beheading of Berg has eclipsed the shame and failure of the US and its allies over the Abu Ghraib scandal. Berg's self-appointed executioners appear to have been oblivious to the fact that a public relations disaster for the US' Middle East policies was a prime opportunity for the Arab and Muslim worlds to push Washington for a new, just approach to the region. Instead, they sabotaged this unique opportunity. They have created a reactionary climate in which Abu Ghraib can be seen as a deserving punishment for an entire society, a climate which fosters the belief that Berg's killers represent the real face of Arabs and Muslims. Not only did an innocent civilian lose his life in appalling circumstances, but the Arab and Muslim worlds have been dealt a severe body blow by the same blade that ended Berg's life.

Secondly, the region's kings, princes and presidents need to learn a valuable lesson from this abhorrent incident: that fractured societies produce real-life theaters of shame like the Berg murder in a systemic manner, and that similar fractures are infecting their own societies. If the Berg beheading does not catapult the region's leaders from the world of lethargy to the world of vigorous action to establish law and order in their own societies - and beginning with themselves - then they will be considerably weakened. They need to prove that their vision extends beyond their own vested interests to their people and societies.

What more is needed to galvanize Arab leaders into action? Today, a man named Berg was put to the sword; tomorrow, it could be the Arab nation torn asunder by the same savagery. A reassessment of the concept of "leadership" is urgently required, and the Arab summit scheduled for May 22-23 would be an excellent place to begin.