An Iranian ex-patriate, Amir Taheri, writes in the Saudi Arabian a-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper that the impending American assault on Iraq and America?s bias in favor of Israel pose a very difficult conundrum for Arab states that wish to remain in the good graces of the US and also remain loyal to Arabdom, as Taheri sees it. Arab states, writes the columnist, ?remain incapable of adopting clear policies toward any of the issues that concern them.? Therefore, the Iranian author suggests a creative course of action, wherein Arab states would agree to remain sidelined or provide assistance in the American war on Iraq in exchange for an American commitment to see through the establishment of another Arab state in Judea, Samaria and Gaza.
Iraq, the a-Sharq al-Awsat article suggests, ?could quickly emerge as Washington?s main ally in the Arab world? after Saddam Hussein?s regime is toppled. There are no states that would act to prevent such a development, writes the author, as they will all seek influence in the eventual reconstitution of Iraq. Arab states, Taheri says, may be sidelined in the event that they remain absolutely neutral, or even hostile, on the Iraq offensive. When US Vice President Dick Cheney visits the region, writes the columnist, he will be telling his Arab hosts, ?We have decided to topple Saddam Hussein. Will you help us do that, fight alongside him or remain neutral?? In response, writes the Persian author, the Arab states need to present Cheney with a ?deal involving change in Iraq as well as the establishment of a Palestinian state?? Such a suggestion, writes the columnist, backed up with the Arab warning that any ?new geopolitical framework for the region? will be unstable without ?movement? towards a Palestinian State, ?might be more acceptable, and more effective too, because it would bring Arab and American interests together.?
Iraq, the a-Sharq al-Awsat article suggests, ?could quickly emerge as Washington?s main ally in the Arab world? after Saddam Hussein?s regime is toppled. There are no states that would act to prevent such a development, writes the author, as they will all seek influence in the eventual reconstitution of Iraq. Arab states, Taheri says, may be sidelined in the event that they remain absolutely neutral, or even hostile, on the Iraq offensive. When US Vice President Dick Cheney visits the region, writes the columnist, he will be telling his Arab hosts, ?We have decided to topple Saddam Hussein. Will you help us do that, fight alongside him or remain neutral?? In response, writes the Persian author, the Arab states need to present Cheney with a ?deal involving change in Iraq as well as the establishment of a Palestinian state?? Such a suggestion, writes the columnist, backed up with the Arab warning that any ?new geopolitical framework for the region? will be unstable without ?movement? towards a Palestinian State, ?might be more acceptable, and more effective too, because it would bring Arab and American interests together.?