Hopeful or scared?
I'm not yet sure if this is a hopeful sign in the Mid East or just more of the same, but it appears that some Arab governments are not very happy at all about the recent behaviour of Hezbollah and are saying so in public (h/t to Mezba). Saudi Arabia has called the capture of Israeli soldiers "unexpected, inappropriate and irresponsible" and that "[t]hese acts will pull the whole region back to years ago, and we cannot simply accept them". Similar reaction has come from the Egyptian and Jordanian governments.
This is nearly unprecedented - in the past, Israel behaviour has been condemned while Arab actions whitewashed or praised. What does this mean?
It could be that some Arab states realize that stability in the region is in their best interest, and that accepting the existence of Israel, even without officially aknowledging it, promotes stability. Or, it could be that they are worried that these uprisings are really rooted in Iran after all, and that this is the sign of a broader Shi'a/ Sunni/ Wahhabi conflict that is about to revive.
For now, I choose to believe that this is a hopeful sign - one of the first I've seen in a few days.
This is nearly unprecedented - in the past, Israel behaviour has been condemned while Arab actions whitewashed or praised. What does this mean?
It could be that some Arab states realize that stability in the region is in their best interest, and that accepting the existence of Israel, even without officially aknowledging it, promotes stability. Or, it could be that they are worried that these uprisings are really rooted in Iran after all, and that this is the sign of a broader Shi'a/ Sunni/ Wahhabi conflict that is about to revive.
For now, I choose to believe that this is a hopeful sign - one of the first I've seen in a few days.
Hmmm, FG,
If this is correct, then it appears that Sunni in Iraq are running and hiding behind the American skirts for protection against the Shia majority. Given that, and the fact that Iran might well be the shadowy figure in the background behind Hezbollah, we have what might well be a broadening Shia/Sunni conflict.
This might well get ugly. And complicated.
Posted by
kevvyd |
Tue Jul 18, 07:47:00 AM