In reference to Mustafa Fetouri's opinion article Libya's toxic tribal divisions are greater than Qaddafi (March 2), I am increasingly suspicious of the so-called tribal structures of Libyan society. It is a fact that most analysts and journalists for so many years, because of the nature of the regime, could not travel, research and interview freely. No one really knows who the Libyans are today and what they want. I fear the tribal nature of Libya was greatly exaggerated by the Gaddafi regime to justify itself. In practice, tribal structures were weakened, the structures of power and governance having been totally concentrated around one man and his clan.
The reports we get from journalists on the ground in the east and the western towns which are now held by rebels seem to show actually quite different pictures. Demonstrations in Benghazi displayed banners that read: Libya, one country, one people. It is still early days but ordinary Libyans seem to be more educated and worldlywise than one had expected.
Their expectations for a new Libya could be very different from the archaic structures they have been labeled with for so long. The very fact, if only symbolic, that rebels all around the country, regardless of their tribal ties, display the pre-Gaddafi Libyan flag is proof, if anyone needed, that there are signs of Libyan unity and identity.
Ashraf Rassifi, Abu Dhabi
A reflection on drowning victims
Why on earth are there no lifeguards on what must be Dubai's busiest tourist beach?
It's not only bad for the tourist business, but a gross oversight concerning basic public safety. Thousands of people enjoy these beaches every day, and they are part of what makes Dubai a gem for residents and visitors alike. It's imperative to make them as safe as possible for all.
MC, Dubai
Give way to ambulances
The news article Sirens wail yet drivers fail to move (March 5) reported that ambulances responding to emergency calls are frequently held up in traffic. All essential and public transport should be given priority.
The ill manners of honking horns for a nano second delay reflects the level of contempt some drivers have for others. If people do not take heed when informed, I am afraid the other way is to penalise these inconsiderate drivers. All ambulances should have a camera fitted so that the authorities can follow up on the violators of traffic law and commonsense.
Davud Burns, UK
Lack of US foreign policy experts
The Review's cover story Flying blind (March 4) reported that the US foreign policy establishment is rife with pseudo-experts. The experts are confounded because this is a spiritual movement for freedom now sweeping the Middle East and the world.
Ray Joseph Cormier, Canada
As one of the last products of American Area Studies programmes in the late 80s and early 90s, I would add the academy's preoccupation, if not obsession, with behavioural-focused quantitative methods that first dismissed and then unfortunately replaced field work and related language skills as the twin foundations of cultural knowledge.
Without them we are now forced to rely on what our (truly) old-school advisers used to refer to as "taxi driver" analysis. To wit: when you arrive in-country. find an English-speaking taxi driver who is willing to brief you on the local situation, then follow this with periodic up-dates from English-speaking waitstaff, hotel staff and bartenders.
Garth Katner, US
I was an immediate advocate of a real expert on Afghanistan, Rory Stewart, whom I see as an amalgam of TE Lawrence, Wilfred Thesiger and perhaps even Winston Churchill. His book, The Places In Between is requisite reading for anyone who wants to understand the "Great Game" in Central Asia, notably Afghanistan.
Richard Gross. Abu Dhabi
A question of airport taxi service
I refer to the article Taxi passengerx taken for a ride (February 27). My husband travels extensively for work and, as a result, he often arrives at the airport at odd times of the day. I keep normal working hours so often I cannot pick him up. Rather he relies on the "silver" metered taxis.
Suddenly, a sign has been erected at the airport telling people that the silver taxis are no longer allowed. Instead, people are forced to take a limousine taxi. A trip home for my husband that would have cost around Dh30 now costs Dh45. This seems unfair. Luckily, it is a minor expense for my husband and I. However I feel sorry for those less fortunate than us.
Philippa Charnaud, Abu Dhabi
