Purdue University Purdue e-Pubs Open Access Dissertations Theses and Dissertations January 2015 Invisible Humans, Visible Terrorists: U.S. Neo- Orientalism Post 9/11 and Representations of the Muslim World Khalid Mosleh Alrasheed Purdue University Follow this and additional works at: https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/open_access_dissertations Recommended Citation Alrasheed, Khalid Mosleh, "Invisible Humans, Visible Terrorists: U.S. Neo-Orientalism Post 9/11 and Representations of the Muslim World" (2015). Open Access Dissertations. 1082. https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/open_access_dissertations/1082 This document has been made available through Purdue e-Pubs, a service of the Purdue University Libraries. Please contact [email protected] for additional information. Graduate School Form 30 Updated 1/15/2015 PURDUE UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL Thesis/Dissertation Acceptance This is to certify that the thesis/dissertation prepared By Khalid Mosleh Alrasheed Entitled INVISIBLE HUMANS, VISIBLE TERRORISTS: U.S. NEO-OREINTALISM POST 9/11 AND REPRESENTATIONS OF THE MUSLIM WORLD For the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Is approved by the final examining committee: Prof. Aparajita Sagar Chair Prof. Shaun Hughes Prof. Alfred Lopez Prof. Ahmed Idrissi Alami To the best of my knowledge and as understood by the student in the Thesis/Dissertation Agreement, Publication Delay, and Certification Disclaimer (Graduate School Form 32), this thesis/dissertation adheres to the provisions of Purdue University’s “Policy of Integrity in Research” and the use of copyright material. Approved by Major Professor(s): Aparajita Sagar Approved by: Krista Ratcliffe 11/16/2015 Head of the Departmental Graduate Program Date i INVISIBLE HUMANS, VISIBLE TERRORISTS: U.S. NEO-ORIENTALISM POST 9/11 AND REPRESENTATIONS OF THE MUSLIM WORLD A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of Purdue University by Khalid M. Alrasheed In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy December 2015 Purdue University West Lafayette, Indiana ii For my parents, wife and children iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I cannot imagine my success in completing my Ph.D. degree if not for my parents. I was raised in a family that valued education. My father, who grew up without a father or a mother, was the first in his tribe to obtain a university degree majoring in history in 1974. He was offered a scholarship from Cambridge University, but he did not accept it for personal reasons. He introduced me to the field of Orientalism by asking me to read translated Orientalist writings. My mother taught me how to love and care, and she will not hesitate to smack me on the head if I say the wrong word or make a mistake even in front of my wife and kids. I remember as a young boy that she would not tolerate my tardiness in doing my homework. I could write books about my parents’ beauty, courage and love, but they will not come close to their real presence in my life. Reem, my wife, has been my biggest supporter throughout my career. She was patient, forgiving, and loving during the writing of this research. She is the center that holds the family together with her love and care. To my three beautiful boys, Mohammad, Mosleh, and Othman, I know that my research took away a lot of time that could have instead been spent with you, but this work was never a priority when you needed me the most. I promise to make it up to you. And yes, the book you were asking me about is finally complete. I love you all so much. iv There is a friend who surpassed, in my estimation, any example of true friendship. Ali Alromaih is a very close friend of mine who never lets me walk alone. Although we are separated by space and time, he calls regularly to check on my family and me and ask for updates about my progress in the Ph.D. program. He constantly offered all kinds of help and his help was not bound by any limits. Here is a friend whose mother shaped his personality into the beautiful person he is now. I cherish and treasure his friendship. Sometimes gratitude falls short when being expressed to a very dear friend. I cannot thank Prof. Aparajita Sagar enough for her industrious work, precocious advice, and sincerity. Her patience was unmatched in reading, rereading and proofreading the dissertation. Despite having extraordinary circumstances of losing her lovely mother, she worked painstakingly with me so I could finish on time. She kept me focused throughout this project and her guidance made me a better reader, writer, and thinker. I am indebted to her forever. I would also like to thank the members of my committee: Prof. Shaun Hughes, Prof. Alfred Lopez and Prof. Ahmed Idrissi Alami. I was lucky to have them on my committee. Their feedback and insights were valuable and deeply appreciated. I am much obliged to their help and guidance. I thank Eric Goddard-Scovel for editing and formatting the final draft. I also would like to thank all my brothers, sisters, and friends for their love and support. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................... vii INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 1 Why 9/11? ....................................................................................................................13 Neo-Orientalism and 9/11 in Criticism and Scholarship .............................................17 The Scope of this Study ...............................................................................................24 Chapter Structure .........................................................................................................27 CHAPTER 1. ANSWERS BEFORE QUESTIONS IN AMERICAN NEO- OREINTALIST THINK TANKS: A CASE STUDY OF THE HOOVER INSTITUTION ..................................................................................................................................... 30 Islamism or Islam ........................................................................................................53 Nazism, Fascism and Islam/ism ..................................................................................63 Westernization of the Middle East ..............................................................................69 Secularism and Democracy .........................................................................................73 The Acknowledgment or Lack Thereof of Colonization and Imperialism ..................83 Everlasting Orientalists and the “Burning Grounds” of the Orient .............................88 “Saudi Arabia,” The Ultimate Confusion ....................................................................91 CHAPTER 2. SAVING THE MIDDLE EAST FROM THE MIDDLE EAST: THE AMERICAN MODEL OF LAWRENCE OF ARABIA .................................................. 94 Florence of Arabia .......................................................................................................97 Relationship between the Middle East and the West .................................................101 Mapping and Change .................................................................................................107 American Neo-Orientalists Meet Classical Orientalists ............................................117 Moonlight Hotel: Negotiating Military Intervention .................................................127 vi Page Timelessness ..............................................................................................................131 Maps, Vision and Hegemony ....................................................................................136 A Moral, Christian United States in the Middle East ................................................141 Saving the Middle East from the Middle East: ..........................................................146 The Lawrence of Arabia Tribute ...............................................................................150 CHAPTER 3. THE VISIBLE TERRORITST: WHAT DOES VISIBILITY OF ARABS AND MUSLIMS MEAN IN AMERICAN SOCIETY POST 9/11? .............................. 155 Terrorist Islam ...........................................................................................................161 The Vulnerable and Fragile American Identity .........................................................170 Islam: Religion or Political Ideology? .......................................................................186 The language of the Qur’an and Terrorism ...............................................................196 Malevolent or Benevolent Destructive Wishes: Hero vs. Villain ..............................200 Un-harborable Arabs .................................................................................................207 An American and Christian Asylum ..........................................................................214 Muslims/Arabs/Middle Easterners/Asians in “The Human Eye” .............................223 Incompatible Islam, Qur’an and Prayer as Performance of Violence .......................231 CHAPTER 4. CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITHOUT ENCOUNTER: WAR NOVELS AND THE ARAB/MUSLIM WORLD .......................................................................... 247 “Ancient Hatred”: The Arab/Muslim World .............................................................254 Christianity and Islam ................................................................................................264 Justification of Wars ..................................................................................................276