Seeing the light?

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A few days ago a White House spokesman announced that it was in the interests of US national security to help end the violence in the Middle East through the creation of a Palestinian state. Washington, the spokesman added, supports the holding of Palestinian elections on 9 January. Has the US finally realised that its national security is indeed threatened by a chaotic Middle East or is this mere rhetoric? Is Washington prepared to admit that something needs to be done about the endless turmoil? Any sensible assessment of the situation leads to a single conclusion. Occupation has to end, in Palestine and in Iraq.

Studies conducted in the aftermath of 9/11 all underline that international stability hinges on fairly addressing the legitimate grievances of all peoples. The world cannot go on ignoring UN resolutions, or continue to implement them selectively. Unless we emerge from the current cycle of violence, what hope do we have of addressing the pressing issues of hunger, poverty and disease? Injustices have for too long distracted the world from tackling these issues.

Terror is no more or less than the culmination of a sad history. Most of our current ordeals stem from the one-sided policies of the world's sole superpower. How can moral leadership be claimed by the very people who seem hell bent on undermining international legitimacy? The threat to US national security comes from its occupation of Iraq and staunch backing of Israel. The Arabs have had strong relations with the US for decades, and yet their region is now in turmoil as a result of US policies.

The US does not need to feel threatened. It needs, rather, to rethink its policies. Injustice and aggression are as unlikely to bring peace as the alliance between Washington's neo-conservatives and international Zionism. Bush's first term was marked by violence, destruction and bloodshed. The billions spent on war could have been used to make the world a better place. Things do not have to be this way. The US can do better.