Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 12 - 18 April 2001 Issue No.529
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875		Current issue | Previous issue | Site map

More misbehaving

In the brief time since the new US administration took office with President George W Bush at its helm, the world community has already begun to express reservations over its foreign policy. In the Middle East, Bush's "hands-off" attitude flies in the face of several Arab capitals' expectation that the new administration -- which does not lack experts versed in the complicated issues -- would resume the approach the first President Bush had initiated after the opening of the 1991 Madrid Middle East peace conference. Instead, the son is intent on finishing the job his father started in Iraq, a country crippled by a 10-year siege, ignoring Arab warnings that Israel is still the greatest threat to regional security.

President Bush's decision to pull out of the Kyoto environmental protection agreement has enraged Europe. China is unhappy with Washington's decision to consider the resumption of arm sales to Taiwan and shelve plans on arms control with North Korea. Meanwhile, Russia has been warning of a possible return to Cold War-era tension if the world's sole superpower continues to ride roughshod over Moscow's sensitivities.

The new US administration, however, has had to change its arrogant tune in the ongoing spy plane confrontation with China. There are limits, after all, to what even the global cowboy can do to a nuclear force with a population of over one billion. China is unmoved by US threats to cut trade relations or prevent it from hosting the upcoming Olympics, and insists on a clear apology before it releases the 24 US servicemen who were on the plane.

President Bush's advisers may yet return to their senses and recognise the anguish they have caused internationally in a matter of months. Instead of adopting such confrontational policies, the United States should do more to bring peace to volatile parts of the world, serving both its interests and those of the international community. In this respect, listening to close allies who are keen to maintain good relations with Washington could be a first step.

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