generalspeaking

War Watch

King Abdullah of Jordan has brought sobering news to the United States where he is on a visit concurrent with his attendance at President Obama's nuclear summit. War, he warns, is imminent, and it is Israel which is responsible for the current crisis. Although having signed a peace treaty with Israel, relations between Israel and Jordan are not quite what they were under the current King's father, King Hussein of Jordan.

When King Hussein signed the peace treaty between Jordan and Israel in Wadi Araba, he spoke of the event as leading to: "Mutual respect between us all, tolerance, and the coming together of people, of generations to come beyond this time, to build and achieve what is worthy of them..." Warm relations were established between King Hussein and many Israeli politicians, among them Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, at whose funeral he delivered a speech of solidarity:

"I never thought that the moment would come like this when I would grieve the loss of a brother, a colleague and a friend - a man, a soldier who met us on the opposite side of a divide whom we respected as he respected us. ... I realized, as he did, that we have to cross over the divide, establish a dialogue, get to know each other and strive to leave for those who follow us a legacy that is worthy of them ... And so we became brethren and friends..."

That was then, and this is now, with King Abdullah now claiming "The political trust is gone. There is no real economic relationship between Jordan and Israel. So economically we were better off in trade and in movement before my father signed the peace treaty." This statement has signalled a switch in relations, where Jordan has moved now to warmer relations with Syria:

"Jordan's relationship with Syria is better than it has been in a long time; probably the best it's ever been. so the engagement now between the Syrian and Jordanian government on economic cooperation are at an all-time high."

This is the King of Jordan who now informs President Obama that Israel is paving the way for an attack - claiming that Syria had generously gifted Scud missiles to Hezbollah - warning that a conflagration is imminent in the Middle East. "Israel aims from this to raise tension further in the region and to create an atmosphere for probable Israeli aggression. The Syrian Arab Republic denies these fabrications."

King Abdullah relishes the prospect of demographics, looking to the future when Israel's Arab population will represent 50% of the country's citizens "in eight to 10 years". "I think the long-term future of Israel is in jeopardy unless we solve our problems. Fifty-seven countries in the world, a third of the United Nations, do not recognize Israel. In a way, I think North Korea has better international relations than Israel."
President Obama could prove credibility with the Arab world by resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict. The simple fact being, he claims, that solving that problem would simultaneously solve the Iranian nuclear threat. "If there are those that are saying that Iran is playing mischief, then I say it is being allowed to play mischief. The platform they use is the injustice of the Palestinians and Jerusalem. So if you start taking those cards off the table, then Iranian influence on the Mediterranean through Hezbollah and Hamas in Gaza diminishes or becomes non-existent ... By dealing with the core issue, that's when you start taking cards away from the Iranian regime."

He claims that his brilliant theory is one fully accepted by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Middle East envoy George Mitchell and General James Jones. And, from all indications, that appears to be proving correct. Given the idle threats of sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran that are merely surface in character, blundering about on the public stage while accomplishing nothing whatever of a practical nature. And all the while Iran's Ahmadinejad sneers at American impotence and announces new nuclear advances.

Arming their proxies Hezbollah and Hamas, Iran and Syria are dominating the Middle East security portfolio. And the U.S. responds through its White House spokesman by claiming "We are obviously increasingly concerned about the sophisticated weaponry that is allegedly being transferred". So too, most likely, is the United Nations, whose UNIFIL presence with its blue berets are there for the purpose of ensuring that no massive arms build-up takes place; problem is they are all eyesight- and hearing-impaired.

"We have expressed our concerns to those governments and believe that steps should be taken to reduce any risk and danger", went on Mr. Gibbs. Well, that's all right then, problem solved, right? The government of Lebanon is mum on the allegations. Tellingly, a Hezbollah lawmaker complained about White House "interference". "This American interference that has completely adopted the Israeli position is condemned and rejected by Lebanon. This U.S. position presents a threat to Lebanon."

Fancy that. It is not a Hezbollah arms build-up with rockets powerful enough to hit Israel that is a problem that could escalate tensions and incur a regional war, but the poking about in the embers of the Americans. "These American pressures and Israeli intimidation will not affect our choices and our commitment to defend our country by all means." By all means, defend Lebanon, but not by mounting an offensive against a neighbour; this goes beyond provocation.

It was, in fact, a Kuwaiti newspaper that first raised the allegations of a build-up of increasingly sophisticated arms provided to Hezbollah by Syria and its partner-in-provocation, Iran. Given, they claimed by a Hezbollah source. Syria, while continuing to make purring overtures to Washington, has made it abundantly clear that its alliance with Iran and with Hezbollah remains paramount.

Labels: Conflict, Israel, Middle East, Technology, United States

posted by Pieface @ Friday, April 16, 2010