Wal-Mart Opens First Arab-American Store

Frankly, speaking from both a political and business stand point, it's one of their smartest moves yet. They have effectively taken the "niche market" concept (identifying a niche customer base, providing target products) to the corporate level in one fell swoop, one single store.

Of course, if you read the article closely, you'll discover that this isn't the first time that Wal-mart has done this. In the south, specifically Georgia, they've created stores that provide targeted products to the African-American community as well. And, if you've ever been to a Wal-mart in more rural communities, you'll find products targeting their requirements, too. Including things such as over-alls, agricultural supplies, food stuffs, etc.

That's why you hire smart buyers who know the community and market.

Half a million Arab-Americans living in Dearborn, MI certainly represents a huge, untapped market.

On the political side, this is a heck of a message to be printed in an internationally read magazine. Remember News Week is the "Koran in the toilet" magazine that sparked international riots (all be it, for a false story with false out rage). But this is a war of messages. What better way to say that the United States loves our Arab Americans and Arab's (Muslims?) in general then to have the biggest American retailer provide merchandise for the same?

Not just that, but as I noted on several occasions, winning the war of ideas isn't just about what politicians do and say or simply "foreign policy" revolving around energy or political interests. American products, American technology are accompanied by American ideas. It is the "slow boat to China" approach to winning an ideological war, but it plays an important piece. Even if it is unintentional by American corporations who are largely focused on the bottom line.

It's one of the reasons that I find the Democrat stance on free trade agreements, particularly Obama's, so egregious. While Mrs. Obama is talking about reducing war and increasing education with these nations, the idea that we would also decrease the opportunity to increase American presence and ideas through American products as well as decrease the economic growth of these nations, providing them the ability to increase wealth and stability and, ultimately increase buying American products (buying our ideas), is simply outrageous.

American Capitalism is accompanied by American Ideas, American Freedoms and, sometimes, American influenced Democracy.

Support free trade. Win the war of ideas.