The Arab Unification Movement?
Megan Donovan
October 09, 2006
Arabs are gravitating toward their historic track of unifying in the interest of a common ideology. And it is important to truly understand that these ideological aspirations are largely religious and not political. For the Arab nations, the price for a democratic society is a commitment to peace. Do we really see coming to fruition, an Arab nation that trades an ingrained ideological governance for a political structure that opposes it? It would be wonderful, if possible. The reality being, this notion has great power in theory - and near impossible hurdles in practical application. We are surgically implanting democracy and the body Arab is rejecting it.
It is simply a fact that the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq has changed the landscape in the Arab nations, re-igniting their ultimate goal to obliterate Israel and militant goals to spread the disease that is terrorism. Even moderate Arab states are already riding the fence and beginning to fall squarely on the side of Arab demand to rise up against Israel and the United States .
A highly significant dynamic occured in Iraq during the Israel / Hezbollah conflict. Perhaps they are an Arab nation before and above being a newborn democracy. Sunni Arabs are prioritizing their opposition to Shiite and their grander ideology that denies Israel's right to exist. The grander ideology is winning. Hamas joined with Hezbollah as Sunni militants are now likely to do. Iraqis were taking to the streets with banners that read "Shiites and Sunnis unite". The Iraqi Prime Minister minced no words in denouncing Israel . The 275 member Iraqi Parliament - united in denouncing Israel and making claims that they will not "sit by with folded hands". This detour by Iraqi officials spells out a clear unification - not as a U.S. ally but in a huge diversion from U.S. policy regarding Israel .
We certainly had, at one time, provided building blocks for Osama Bin Laden, as well as Saddam Hussein. Have we now trained Iraq to rise up with Arab militants against Israel and the United States? Will that lead to the fall of another attempt at forced democracy in the middle-east?
It is simply a fact that the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq has changed the landscape in the Arab nations, re-igniting their ultimate goal to obliterate Israel and militant goals to spread the disease that is terrorism. Even moderate Arab states are already riding the fence and beginning to fall squarely on the side of Arab demand to rise up against Israel and the United States .
A highly significant dynamic occured in Iraq during the Israel / Hezbollah conflict. Perhaps they are an Arab nation before and above being a newborn democracy. Sunni Arabs are prioritizing their opposition to Shiite and their grander ideology that denies Israel's right to exist. The grander ideology is winning. Hamas joined with Hezbollah as Sunni militants are now likely to do. Iraqis were taking to the streets with banners that read "Shiites and Sunnis unite". The Iraqi Prime Minister minced no words in denouncing Israel . The 275 member Iraqi Parliament - united in denouncing Israel and making claims that they will not "sit by with folded hands". This detour by Iraqi officials spells out a clear unification - not as a U.S. ally but in a huge diversion from U.S. policy regarding Israel .
We certainly had, at one time, provided building blocks for Osama Bin Laden, as well as Saddam Hussein. Have we now trained Iraq to rise up with Arab militants against Israel and the United States? Will that lead to the fall of another attempt at forced democracy in the middle-east?