You pick up a newspaper or sit down in front of a television and you get a daily fare of some child being shot and killed or some homes being razed to the ground by Israeli aggressors. Indeed, this sort of news is becoming almost as predictable as the weather in this part of the region. And yet, nothing changes.
The Americans in this part of the world wonder why is everybody blaming them for it. What do they have to do with all this violence? Why don’t the Arabs act upon such transgression with genuine actions instead of empty rhetoric? For it is obvious that all the summits in the world have produced nothing to arrest this mounting cycle of violence.
I think the truth of the matter is somewhere along the line that there is a sense of betrayal. And that betrayal is by none other than the US, the supposedly beacon of light of human rights and democracy. The Israeli aggression could be forced into a debate on the world stage and eventually stopped, but it cannot be done in the face of blind support by the most powerful nation on this planet.
The early pioneers of oil exploration who came to this region from America were welcomed with open arms. It was because of their honesty, their openness, and their sincerity toward developing this part of the world. There was little of the imperialistic or colonial demeanor at the time of the English or the Japanese for that matter. There presence was appreciated with a sense of mutual need and reciprocity.
The people here, for the most part, took to things American. In later years, thousands upon thousands of people from this part of the world headed to the US in pursuit of higher education. And when they returned, they brought back stories of a great and just society, of warmth and acceptance, of social welfare and democracy. And above all, a message on the concept of fair play they were exposed to or dealt with.
Where did that sense of fair play vanish? When the bully in the neighborhood bared his fangs, America immediately stepped on the forefront to defend him. Be it on the war front or in the Security Council sessions, the US consistently shielded this bully to the point where it has now created a monster. And within the US itself, this bully has managed to infiltrate and seed itself deep into the bowels of the government in order to govern Middle Eastern policy.
Done with stealth and treachery, these couriers of Israel have today successfully taken over the decision-making processes toward this region. When Bush was running against Gore, this region favored the son of an admired past president. After all, Lieberman was on Gore’s ticket, and heaven help that an Israeli sympathizer lands in the White House. However, this Bush seems to have been steered straight back into the bully’s backyard.
Forget oil embargoes and all-out wars against the bully. These campaigns are a double-edged sword, and more innocent people worldwide will be harmed unnecessarily. How long would atrocities ferment in a person’s psyche before exploding into action. Do we really seek or want that?
The Americans in this part of the world may be the key. They are not shielded from a press favorable to Israel. They see what is happening. They can still act. Get out from the sanctity of your compounds and camps here and get the message out to your local newspapers and your people, to your senators and your congressmen. Demand that fair play be brought back into the equation of Middle Eastern politics. Above all, ACT! For this may be your chance to contribute to the cause of peace in the region. Don’t shield the thug with your silence.
Work through the power of the people, the strength of your voice, your vote. Make a difference. For unlike the Israelis, we have no moles dwelling in the cellars of the White House, the State or Defense Departments, and need all the help we can get!
Yes, America. You have wounded me deeply. But for how long do you think I will allow myself to bleed?
— Tariq A. Al-Maeena
