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"I’m sitting on the side that’s launching bombs’: author Omar El Akkad on the hypocrisy of the west." Interview of Omer El Akkad by Noa Yachot. TheGuardian.

 


Here’s a detailed breakdown of Omar El Akkad’s views from his Guardian interview, where he critiques the hypocrisy of the West, particularly in the context of the Gaza war, the U.S. role in global conflicts, and the moral failures of Western liberalism.

1. Disillusionment with the "Free World"

  • Early Idealization of the West:
    • As a child growing up in Egypt and Qatar, El Akkad admired Western freedoms—such as access to uncensored books and music.
    • Moving to Canada and later the U.S., he saw the West as a land of opportunity and values.
  • Cracks in the Illusion:
    • Despite covering major conflicts (Afghanistan, Guantánamo, the Arab uprisings), he still believed in America’s moral foundation.
    • The Gaza war shattered this belief, making him feel personally complicit in Western-supported atrocities.

2. The Gaza War as the Breaking Point

  • "Sitting on the launching side of the bombs":
    • El Akkad recognizes that his taxpayer money funds Israel’s war in Gaza, making him complicit.
    • Unlike past conflicts he covered, the real-time nature of the Gaza war made it impossible to look away.
  • Three Reasons for His Crisis of Faith:
    1. Immediacy: The war unfolded live on social media, with images of children who were later confirmed dead.
    2. Scale: The magnitude of destruction was beyond what he had seen before.
    3. Cowardice (His Own): He admits he ignored warning signs and justified past U.S. actions as anomalies, but Gaza made that impossible.

3. Hypocrisy of Western Liberalism

  • Moral Bankruptcy of Western Political Leaders:
    • The war in Gaza revealed that Western liberalism is hollow, prioritizing comfort over true moral action.
    • He criticizes leaders who preach human rights while funding wars and ignoring mass suffering.
  • Democrats’ Performative Politics:
    • The Democratic Party talks about existential threats (Trump, climate change) but does little to meaningfully address them.
    • Biden’s administration postures as progressive while actively supporting war and oppression.
  • Contrast with Trump and the Right:
    • While Trump is extreme, his actions align more closely with his rhetoric.
    • The Democratic Party, however, widens the gap between its "performance" and "reality."

4. The U.S. War on Terror and Its Parallels to Gaza

  • Previous Reporting on U.S. Wars:
    • He covered Afghanistan, Guantánamo, and the post-9/11 era but still believed in America’s "core goodness."
    • Thought U.S. actions were deviations from a fundamentally sound system.
  • Why Gaza is Different:
    • Unlike the "War on Terror," Gaza’s destruction is ongoing and visible in real time.
    • The global response—either silent, complicit, or justifying violence—makes it impossible to believe in Western moral leadership.

5. The Collapse of the American System

  • Trump is Not the Biggest Threat:
    • El Akkad sees the real problem as systemic: America is built on "endless taking"—of land, resources, and lives.
    • Trump is merely a symptom of a deeper issue; his extremism was once fringe but is now mainstream.
  • The System is Breaking Under Its Own Myths:
    • The U.S. political structure can no longer sustain its contradictions.
    • Both major parties are failing: one (Republicans) embraces extremism, while the other (Democrats) offers weak resistance.

6. The Role of Complacent Liberals

  • The Silent Majority’s Responsibility:
    • Many liberals sympathize with Palestinian suffering but refuse to act.
    • Fear of backlash or loss of privilege stops them from speaking out.
  • Western Institutions Are Failing:
    • Academia, media, and political structures have proven to be complicit in oppression.
    • The West claims to champion democracy and human rights but applies those values selectively.

7. Hope in Grassroots Resistance

  • Despite Everything, There is Hope:
    • His book is not just an indictment but a recognition of individual courage.
    • Examples of resistance:
      • Doctors risking their lives to save people in Gaza.
      • Dock workers refusing to load weapons onto ships.
      • University students rejecting privilege to protest injustice.
  • The Future of Change Lies in the People:
    • Institutional reform may be hopeless, but grassroots movements offer real opposition.
    • He sees ordinary people taking meaningful action, which gives him hope.

8. Final Takeaways

  • The Gaza war exposed the deep hypocrisy of Western liberalism and permanently severed El Akkad’s belief in the moral superiority of the West.
  • The U.S. government, particularly under Democratic leadership, engages in performative politics—preaching justice while funding war.
  • The American system is collapsing, not because of Trump alone, but because of its insatiable nature and reliance on violence.
  • While institutions fail, individual acts of resistance prove that people can still fight for justice.
  • The future depends on whether liberals will move beyond passive sympathy and take real action.

Conclusion

El Akkad’s latest work is not just a critique of America’s hypocrisy but a call for moral clarity. He argues that people must either accept their complicity in systemic violence or take a stand—because the West’s moral posturing is no longer sustainable.

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