The Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy (IRmep) based in Washington is organizing a forum to awaken the American people from their slumber. It wants to explain the policies of the neocons in the Bush administration, who it appears have been calling for changes in US foreign policy to realize the goals of a 1996 Israeli plan for hegemony over the Middle East.
When Benjamin Netanyahu was elected prime minister of Israel in 1996, he gathered together a group of advisers, nearly all of whom subsequently rose to influential policy-making positions within US government, media and academic circles. Their task was to work out a plan for Israel in 2000. It was called “A Clean Break: A New Strategy for Securing the Realm.” Among the group of advisers were Richard Perle, James Colbert, Charles Fairfax, Douglas Feith (currently deputy defense secretary), and David Wurmser (an adviser to Vice President Dick Cheney) and Elliot Abrams.
The working paper calls for a radical change in “failed” previous policies such as land for peace, focus on pragmatism and balance of power in the Middle East. These policies depended primarily on financial and military aid to Israel. IRmep researchers believe that the plan advanced by Netanyahu and his group is responsible for the war on Iraq, and that the US administration simply took over the plan without worrying about international support. The result is that the US is paying a high price in terms of money, morale and human life.
IRmep believes that the American people should know what the plan is and the high price that they are paying for it. The forum — on Capitol Hill on Nov. 26 and entitled “Wake Up, America” — will consist of academics specializing in Middle Eastern issues.
The institute has been studying the goals of the American think-tanks that formulate and advocate Middle East policy and directly influence US defense spending, future theaters of conflict, and the profits of defense contractors. IRmep wonders who is behind these think-tanks, who the members are and what their real agenda is.
A study it conducted this summer revealed that the volume of US exports to Arab countries dropped from 18 percent in 1997 to 13 percent in 2001 as a result of the Arab boycott of US products. IRmep estimates that America has lost $31 billion as a result of this drop in exports, and that if the situation continues it will lose another $63 billion by 2007. The policy therefore has and will cause the loss of thousands of high-level jobs.
The institute takes the view that the US government is being unreasonable in putting all the blame on Arab countries after the Sept. 11 events, and feels that there is an ulterior motive at work which does not ultimately benefit the US at all.
The objectives of the “New Strategy for Securing the Realm” were as follows:
• Occupation of Iraq, which threatens global security.
• Delaying the road map, which costs US taxpayers billions of dollars, and support for a peace-for-peace instead of a land-for-peace solution.
• Rejuvenation of Zionism.
• Increasing the support of the US Congress.
• Containing, destabilizing and rolling back regional challengers.
• Economic reforms.
All these policies serve the interests not of the US but of Israel, and support the Israeli aim of reshaping the Middle East.
The original group of Israeli advisers rely on the media, especially columnists such as William Safire and Charles Krauthammer to distort the image of Islam by doing the following:
• Portraying Islam as the biggest threat to America.
• Suggesting that Arab governments are not legitimate.
• Delegitimizing the land-for-peace plan.
• Prioritizing the defense of Israel’s security and portray Palestinian fighters as terrorists.
• Linking all the Arab governments to Sept. 11.
• Portraying Israelis as heroes.
• Highlighting anti-Semitism.
There is a dire need for these facts to be made public in order to understand who is behind the acts of violence in our country and behind the unrest that is shaking its security. These are naive people who have yielded to temptation and are misled into thinking that reform can be achieved by violence.
Islam has nothing to do with those behind these attacks. Their actions are completely against the teachings and principles of Islam, and putting the blame on Islam is the work of those who seek to destabilize our country’s security.
Muslims feel that the Kingdom is the only country in the world that applies Islam and Shariah in all aspects of life. Although many Islamists are against America’s policies in the region, they will not attack or kill their brethren.
On the other hand, a number of reformers have presented their demands to the government, which has started studying their proposals to implement them. Reforms cannot be rushed. They require research, study, discussion and evaluation. They must be properly assessed to see if they are appropriate for our society and its values. The reforms must have national objectives and must be in coordination with the leadership considering the interests and unity of the country. Islamic reformers could never commit suicide bombings.
Who then is behind these acts of violence in our country? We must comprehend that it is Islam that is the target, that the aim of the attacks is the destruction of Islamic values, our faith and unity, which have made us a secure and cohesive society. They aim to create division.
This is not a riddle. It is not hidden from us. What we have to do is get beyond the stage of asking who or why and work together to end strife and turmoil. We must stand shoulder to shoulder despite our differences, as reformers, Islamists, intellectuals, preachers, academics and liberals to end this turmoil through unity and solidarity. We must stop these misguided young people so they can no longer undermine the country’s security and unity. Let us do all we can to uncover the conspiracies that surround us and fight our enemy with the very weapon that it fears: Our unity.
