Shifting alliances

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US politicians and advisers tend to think that US policy in the Middle East is facing problems because the Arab public is ignorant of its aims and because Arab intellectuals are reluctant to endorse it. But the trouble runs much deeper than that. For one thing, you cannot base an imperial dream, a scheme to dominate the world, as the Americans seem determined to do, on alliances alone. Empires, throughout history, tend to favour lackeys over allies, which can be a problem.

The traditional friendship between the US and its friends in the region has soured because of the pressures the Americans are putting on Arab regimes. Besides, ties of friendship have largely been a matter of official policy rather than public sentiment. This explains the constant public resistance to US policies, scenes of hatred and flag burnings in the streets.

The US is changing the map of its alliances to suit its war on terror and its new emphasis on pre-emptive war. Pakistan, once viewed as pariah in the US, turned into an ally in the war on Afghanistan. Russia found itself a new role at the heart of new US strategy, and US-Russian relations have improved over the past two years much faster than anytime since 1990. Other countries in Eastern Europe have become close allies of the US -- Poland, Romania and the Czech Republic, among others.

Older allies -- countries such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey -- seem to be experiencing difficulties just as new allies -- such as Qatar -- seem to be rising high in the charts of US foreign policy. In Western Europe, countries such as Germany, France and Spain are not having a smooth time of it with the Americans.

One thing the US administration can do to improve its standing in the region is to follow practical, pragmatic, and moderate policies, particularly with regard to Palestine, Iraq and reform. The Americans should formulate their policies with the nations of the region, not just the governments, in mind. Once it stops trying to shortchange the nations of the region, the US will be on the right track.