American foreign policy in the Middle East before Sept. 11 was generally against its national interest because of its total support for Israel. The American government claims that Israel was — and is — a strategic ally, especially during the Cold War. During that time, Israel never played any role in America’s interest or against its enemy at that time: Russia.
Nevertheless, American propaganda continued saying that Israel was an ally. Then came Iraq, Saddam and the invasion of Kuwait in 1991. The war to liberate Kuwait proved that Israel was not a strategic American ally. Israel was a real burden on the United States during the war.
Now, when America is again preparing to attack Iraq and trying to form an international coalition, Israel supports the war but has said that it will not participate in it. In other words to believe that Israel is America’s first strategic partner in the area is false. How could it be so, when Israel will not participate when America sends troops into Iraq?
A few days ago, the US secretary of state said that one purpose of the war against Iraq was to reshape certain aspects of the Middle East. The question is what kind of reshaped Middle East was he talking about. What is the plan? We do not have the information to answer these questions. What used to be secret about American interests in the area is now said aloud. The former head of the CIA did not hesitate when he said that the main goal is to strip the Middle East of its power derived from oil. By taking away that power, do they plan to control quantities and influence prices by controlling Iraq which has the second largest reserves after the Kingdom, or by drawing a new map?
It is all clear now that the main goal of the war is to draw a new regional map. It is too early and we do not have enough information to know what the map will be like. But we have to remember the long-term strategic Israeli goal in the area is to be the region’s supreme power and to weaken Arab countries by creating small Arab states built on ethnic and tribal lines. Israel will then be the strongest country in the area both politically and economically. If Israel cannot achieve its goal, America, the only superpower, will achieve the goal under the false premise of American interest. If Israel becomes a superpower, then sooner or later it will clash with America. That is inevitable when two predators are after the same prey.
Arab News From the Local Press 24 February 2003
