Still Washington

The US Security Council veto indicates that Congressional mid-term elections have changed little, writes Doaa El-Bey

---

The results of the mid-term US elections prompted many writers to urge Washington to consider changing its policies in the Middle East. They also called on the Arabs to play a more active role to improve the state of their region.

Irfan Nizameddin wrote in the London-based daily Al-Hayat that the results of the elections proved that George Bush's mission to bring democracy to the Middle East not only failed, but was rejected in the US as well. However, Nizameddin warned against regarding Bush, Tony Blair and other leaders as our enemies and rejoicing when one of them loses an election or suffers from waning popularity.

It is more useful, he said, to learn lessons from these elections. We should realise that there is a very effective front in the West called "public opinion" that monitors the policies of its rulers and questions them if they make mistakes, Nizameddin wrote.

The concept of "rotation of power" is something else we should learn from the election results. Majority and minority parties should bow to the results of the ballot box and whoever wins should rule fairly, and whoever loses should sit in the opposition chair to monitor the performance of the ruling party and question them whenever needed.

Nizameddin wrote that double standards are ruling our states. "When we call for punishing Western leaders when they make mistakes and we fail to do this at home, these are double standards more or less similar to the US double standard when dealing with the Arabs and Israel."

He called for founding a democracy in the Middle East based on sound principles. "Democracy cannot be imposed or imported from other states. We should work to establish it inside our own nations each according to its special nature and the needs of its people."

Emad Elw wrote that the Iraqi curse had hit the Pentagon hard and had led to the fall of its leader Donald Rumsfeld who adopted the policy of using power in US external policies.

In the Iraqi daily Az-Zaman, Elw expected the fall of Rumsfeld to be the first move in a series of steps which will dramatically change US policy. It would also set the stage for the New Study Group, co-chaired by former state secretary James Baker, which will present a new "road map" that is likely to draw up new policies for the US presence in Iraq or pave the way for its withdrawal.

In the London-based daily Asharq Al-Awsat, Maamoun Fendi wrote that the Republican defeat in the mid-term elections forced Bush to abandon his alliance with the neo-conservatives and change his strategy towards Iraq and in fact the entire region. In line with the new strategy, Fendi predicted that Baker would recommend the appointment of Robert Gates, who opposed Bush's policies in Iraq, as the new secretary of defence. New Study is also likely to request more US forces to be stationed outside cities in Iraq and the opening of a dialogue with Syria. Another recommendation would be holding a regional peace conference which could resolve the problem of instability in Iraq. Neighbouring countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran as well as pivotal countries like Egypt are likely to take part in the meet.

Fendi added that whatever Baker's recommendations are, the security of the Gulf and the region would always be the responsibility of its inhabitants. "No matter what changes the US makes, even if it rebelled against the neo-cons, they would serve American interests first and foremost. The question is: Will Arab leaders meet the international challenge or wait for pre- made solutions to be delivered to them from abroad?"

Rashed Saleh Al-Uraimi wrote in the United Arab Emirates daily Al-Ittihad that Rumsfeld was the first scapegoat of the elections and would likely be followed by other neo-cons. He said that given that Congress is run by Democrats now, Bush is left with no option but to adopt Baker's recommendations in Iraq and open new channels of dialogue with Syria and Iraq. "It is likely that Bush will soon declare the end of the 'new Middle East' show and stop using hollow terms like 'democratisation' and 'reform' after he paid dearly for using them," he said.

Al-Uraimi warned against a military pullout from Iraq at this time, but called for a political withdrawal. Those who created havoc in Iraq and dissolved the Iraqi army and police cannot withdraw whenever they wish. They can only leave when the situation in Iraq has settled.

Unlike other writers, Sultan Al-Hattab did not pin any hopes on the US for a change in policy. In the Jordanian daily Al-Rai, Al-Hattab said the difference between the Republicans and Democrats did not mean any major change in US policy especially regarding the Palestinians. Even if there was a slight change regarding Iraq, he added, this could be ascribed to Iraqi opposition to the US presence as well as US casualties in Iraq.

He added that the US veto to stop a Security Council resolution from condemning Israeli practices in Gaza will incite more violence in the region. "The Arabs should not expect the US to stop vetoing any resolution against Israel even if it commits genocide -- and takes responsibility for it -- like it did in Beit Hanoun and Qana in Lebanon. Thus the Arabs should reconsider resorting to the Security Council or preparing draft resolutions that are likely to be vetoed. Probably the North Korean or the Iranian stands are more effective ways in dealing with biased US policies."