The United States is never short of tactics in its continuous endeavors to undermine the stability of regimes and countries that refuse to submit to its hegemony.
In its attempts, America knows no boundaries or restraints and does not hesitate to breach every diplomatic norm in order to justify its public interference in the internal affairs of other states.
American foreign policy has now taken a new shape. In the past, US intervention was done covertly by hidden hands. Now, it is overt operation in broad daylight.
President George W. Bush keeps repeating his admiration for student demonstrations in Iran, describing the students as brave people aspiring to freedom and needing to know that America sides with them. Such behavior leaves no room for any doubt that what Bush is doing is outright intervention in the internal affairs of a foreign country.
The seriousness of the message Bush tries to convey is that it is not just addressed to Iran but it incites other people against regimes that refuse to be led by American force.
We have to look at how American forces are dealing with hungry crowds in Iraq who are demonstrating peacefully, demanding food and security, and then we will see what policy America wants to force on others.
The Americans have not even bothered about the freedom of expression they preach; they care nothing about the harsh conditions the Iraqis are experiencing under American occupation.
Bush is only concerned with condemning anti-American demonstrations that take place all over the world. But if a world leader dared to express sympathy with a demonstration taking place inside America, they would be considered to have violated international laws and values and even find themselves labeled as extremists and terrorists.
Welcome to the new American world policy, where regimes and countries are faced with two bitter options — submit and allow yourself to be swallowed or face the wrath of the world’s only superpower.
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Two contradicting stands coming from two Arab countries after the recent World Economic Forum in Jordan require serious consideration if we are to fathom their true meaning and motives.
The first country, Lebanon, refused to take part in the international economic gathering on the grounds that it does not attend any conference where there is an Israeli presence.
The second country, Bahrain, took the opportunity to hold a meeting between its crown prince and the Israeli foreign minister. This may have been the real objective behind Bahrain’s crown prince attending the conference.
What were the calculations of each of the two countries when taking these positions?
Lebanon has borders with Israel and some of its land is still under Israeli occupation. Under today’s understanding of the concept of peace, Lebanon — and not Bahrain, which is far away — should have been the country to initiate contacts with Israel. If the criterion needed to deal with the enemy calls for opening up to the West politically, economically and socially, Lebanon is a most open country compared to all other conservative Gulf states, of which Bahrain is one. And if the objective is to win America’s heart, something that can be done by first passing through the Israeli gate, what is it that Lebanon can give to America that is more than Bahrain and other Gulf countries such as Kuwait and Qatar?
Assuming that Lebanon’s decision to boycott the conference was the result of Syrian pressure, it could be said that Bahrain has a powerful brotherly neighbor with great influence that continues to resist any rapprochement with Israel. It is indeed ironic to note that two decades ago condemnation was the name of the game when any attempt was made to approach the Israelis. Today, people are asking why Lebanon is boycotting Israel.
Raising eyebrows as an expression of displeasure and disapproval over what Bahrain did is the least that can be done right now. It is the weakest form of opposition and will remain so until we hear a justification compatible with the interests of the Kingdom of Bahrain and its people as well as those of other Gulf states.
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(Muhammad Al-Shibani is a Saudi writer based in Jeddah.)