Storm warnings

The Arab world is facing imminent winds of change with an American administration busy planning either war or peace for the countries in the region. Central to these plans is the position of Iraq. Whether or not Iraq will be subject to an American strike will to a large extent determine the nature of the political and strategic compromises Arab countries will have to make vis-à-vis the settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict and the nature and duration of US military presence in the Arab world.

Peace for Iraq means development opportunities for the entire region; war against Iraq will inevitably cloud the political atmosphere, leading to reduced foreign investments, fewer job opportunities, higher rates of unemployment and heightened frustration.

On Tuesday President Hosni Mubarak voiced concern over the negative political and economic repercussions that will impact the entire region should Washington carry out its threats of military action against Iraq. President Mubarak's warnings, one can only assume, were directed not only at Washington and London but at those Arab capitals that seem willing to violate those Arab summit resolutions prohibiting any actions that might facilitate a war against Iraq.

Qatar's ambiguous stance on whether or not it will allow the Americans to use Al-Udaid military base to attack Iraq is in urgent need of clarification. Qatar has every right to consolidate its strategic military ties with the US, but it cannot do so by compromising the long-term interests of millions of Arabs. Kuwait, too, has every reason to feel bitter towards Iraq. The line of Kuwaiti officials, who are always advocating Palestinians to seek peace and not war with the Israelis would, though, carry more weight if Kuwait itself adopted a similar stand towards Iraq.

The Iraqi invasion of Kuwait was a catastrophe for which Iraq, and the rest of the region, paid dear. Now is the time Arab countries should stand united to ensure such losses are cut short.

Al-Ahram Weekly Online : 19 - 25 December 2002 (Issue No. 617)
Located at: http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2002/617/ed.htm