Following the September 11 attacks , U.S. Middle Eastern studies programs were criticized as inattentive to issues of Islamic terrorism . Israeli-American historian Martin Kramer published a 2001 book , '' Ivory Towers on Sand : The Failure of Middle Eastern Studies in America '' , and '' Wall Street Journal '' article claiming that Middle Eastern studies courses were " part of the problem , not its remedy . " In a '' Foreign Affairs '' review of the book , F. Gregory Gause said his analysis was , in part , " serious and substantive " but " far too often his valid points are overshadowed by academic score-settling and major inconsistencies . " In 2002 , American writer Daniel Pipes established an organisation called Campus Watch to combat what he perceived to be serious problems within the discipline , including " analytical failures , the mixing of politics with scholarship , intolerance of alternative views , apologetics , and the abuse of power over students " . He encouraged students to advise the organization of problems at their campuses . In turn critics within the discipline such as John Esposito accused him of " McCarthyism " . Professors denounced by Pipes as " left-wing extremists " were often harassed with hate speech . Pipes was appointed to the United States Institute of Peace board of directors by George W. Bush , despite protests from the Arab American community
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Middle Eastern studies