TomCat111
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Riceââ¬â¢s Mid-East myopia
THE good news emanating from Washington is that there is at last some admission that Americaââ¬â¢s Middle East policy has boomeranged, not least in the case of Iraq. This considered view is being held by the influential Iraq Study Group, co-headed by the former secretary of state, James Baker, who argues for engaging Syria and Iran to end violence in Iraq. The bad news, however, is that President Bushââ¬â¢s secretary of state does not share this view: Condoleezza Rice still believes in giving the Arabs lessons in democracy. She insists that Iran and Syria should have no say in the affairs of Iraq, and both should be punished for their Lebanon policy ââ¬â Iran even more so for pursuing nuclear technology ââ¬â while America must keep working for bringing democracy to the Middle East. What Ms Rice does not want the world to focus on is the real challenge faced by Washington there. Its key allies in the region are autocrats and it is allergic to the existing democratic, popular Arab opinion as reflected in the electoral victory for Hamas in Palestine or in the voice of the independent Al-Jazeera TV. These contradictions, and the application of double standards to the Middle East conflict, have blurred American vision for the region to be at peace with itself and the rest of the world. For instance, Iraq should never have been invaded and occupied by a US-led force in a knee-jerk reaction to the 9/11 terrorist attacks on America. Even the western alliesââ¬â¢ Afghan policy has been an embarrassment so far, with little signs of normality returning to that ravaged country.
What Ms Rice and others sharing her opinion need to know is that a new Middle East cannot be shaped with the sole aim of securing American interests. She is right when she says that it is not the same Middle East that James Baker dealt with 15 years ago; it is a more dangerous and volatile place today. Reckless American meddling has resulted in the suppression of secular, democratic forces for the short-term advantage of Israel and helped strengthen radical, Islamist elements to its own detriment.
THE good news emanating from Washington is that there is at last some admission that Americaââ¬â¢s Middle East policy has boomeranged, not least in the case of Iraq. This considered view is being held by the influential Iraq Study Group, co-headed by the former secretary of state, James Baker, who argues for engaging Syria and Iran to end violence in Iraq. The bad news, however, is that President Bushââ¬â¢s secretary of state does not share this view: Condoleezza Rice still believes in giving the Arabs lessons in democracy. She insists that Iran and Syria should have no say in the affairs of Iraq, and both should be punished for their Lebanon policy ââ¬â Iran even more so for pursuing nuclear technology ââ¬â while America must keep working for bringing democracy to the Middle East. What Ms Rice does not want the world to focus on is the real challenge faced by Washington there. Its key allies in the region are autocrats and it is allergic to the existing democratic, popular Arab opinion as reflected in the electoral victory for Hamas in Palestine or in the voice of the independent Al-Jazeera TV. These contradictions, and the application of double standards to the Middle East conflict, have blurred American vision for the region to be at peace with itself and the rest of the world. For instance, Iraq should never have been invaded and occupied by a US-led force in a knee-jerk reaction to the 9/11 terrorist attacks on America. Even the western alliesââ¬â¢ Afghan policy has been an embarrassment so far, with little signs of normality returning to that ravaged country.
What Ms Rice and others sharing her opinion need to know is that a new Middle East cannot be shaped with the sole aim of securing American interests. She is right when she says that it is not the same Middle East that James Baker dealt with 15 years ago; it is a more dangerous and volatile place today. Reckless American meddling has resulted in the suppression of secular, democratic forces for the short-term advantage of Israel and helped strengthen radical, Islamist elements to its own detriment.
