Page 232 - A Call for a Turkish-Islamic Union

A CALL FOR A TURKISH-ISLAMIC UNION

cational, scientific, and cultural development.
Consider the following facts: The total arms
expenditure of Middle Eastern countries in

1991, when the Gulf war broke out, was $70.7
billion. Arms spending dropped to $52.2 bil-
lion during the following years, but soon
began to increase again. Military spending
stood at $61 billion in 2000 and $72 billion in

2001.
• Present instability and conflicts in the
Islamic world cause many of the region's doc-

tors, engineers, academics, scientists,
thinkers, and writers to migrate to the West,
where they continue their work, for they do
not feel secure in their home countries. Re-
search reveals that this migration from Arab

countries has cost the Islamic world $200 bil-
lion. In fact, 450,000 of these migrants are col-
24
lege or university graduates. An environ-
ment of peace will eliminate internal tensions
and end this migration. As a result, the work
and skills of highly educated individuals will
primarily benefit Muslims.

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