In the Middle East, it is always important to keep in mind the saying, "the enemy of my enemy is my friend." Perhaps that is what explains the fact that many Arabs are harshly criticizing Hizbollah - a client of Iran - for provoking Israel into its current military operation in Lebanon. According to Reuters:
Saudi criticism of Hizbollah and Iran for provoking Israel's blitz of Lebanon is driven by fear of rising Iranian influence in the region, analysts said on Monday.[...]
"Saudi Arabia doesn't want the same chance for Iranian intervention in Lebanon as has happened in Iraq," said Saudi political analyst Dawoud Shiryan.
[...]
"They look at Hizbollah as an extension of Iran. They cannot believe Hizbollah took the strategic decision (to kidnap Israeli soldiers) without at least the knowledge, if not green light, of the Iranians," said Iraqi analyst Mustafa Alani.
Meanwhile, Sunni clerics in Saudi Arabia are denouncing the Shi'ite Hizbollah militia in blunt terms:
"We should not raise our hand in respect to just anyone who fights the Israeli-American forces," said an editorial comment on the Web site of leading hardline cleric Nasser al-Omar."Hizbollah is not fighting on behalf of Sunni Muslims in Palestine or elsewhere, it is a tool in the hands of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard let loose to realise an Iranian agenda."
Back in Lebanon itself, a Christian Lebanese analyst, Joseph Bishara, writes:
Hizbullah is trying to provoke Israel into war to divert attention from the mistakes made by the Syrian and Iranian regimes. [Syrian President] Bashar Assad and [Iran's Supreme Spirtual Leader] Ali Khamenei are using Hizbullah to achieve their direct and indirect goals in the region. They used Hizbullah to ease the pressure exerted by the international community on Syria and Iran.How can we ask Israel to have mercy on the Lebanese while Hizbullah is betraying Lebanon day and night?
Lebanon is paying the price for the sins of its real enemies - Syria and Iran, which don't dare confront Israel militarily and diplomatically. The time has come to neutralize and disarm Hizbullah before it becomes an illegitimate state inside Lebanon. Hizbullah's weapons threaten Lebanon's stability before they threaten Israel.
Finally, Iraqi columnist Wadi Batti writes:
By initiating the confrontation with Israel, Hizbullah has made a mockery of the Lebanese government and leaders, who are now seen as pawns in the hands of Nasrallah. How long will the Arabs continue to fight on behalf of Iran?
As the saying goes, "the enemy of my enemy..." And in today's Arab world, the greatest enemy appears to be Iran, not Israel.
Lowell Feld is Netroots Coordinator for the Jim Webb for US Senate Campaign. The ideas expressed here belong to Lowell Feld alone, and do not necessarily represent those of Jim Webb, his advisors, staff, or supporters.
The bottom lie here is that the war in Iraq, which was sold to us by the Bush Administration as supposdly a way to bring peace and stability to the Middle East, has now led to the exact opposite. Today, we face possible war between the United States and Iran, Israel and Syria, Israel and Lebanon. We also face a near-complete breakdown in the Israeli-Palestinian "peace process."
But now you're saying the Hizbollah started all this? Let's get one story and stick to it. 'k?
George Bush, not the Hizbollah, is launching all those rockets at Haifa -- remember that.
So yes, Hizbollah and its main allies - Iran and Syria - are mostly to blame here. However, the Bush Administration bears some of the blame as well, for taking its eye off the ball and wasting our resources against Iraq - NOT a threat - whiel not dealing with Iran and its terrorist allies. [Note: I won't even get into how the Bush Administation took its eye off of the main "ball" - Al Qaeda.] In other words, the Bush Administration has completely confused who attacked us on 9/11, what and who we're fighting, and why. As a result, the Bush Administration has weakened U.S. national security and specifically its position in the Middle East. Exactly the opposite of what the "neocons" said would happen.
Case closed.
Due to the psychological need to persist with the failed policy, the war proponents must remain in denial of many facts staring them in the face.They refuse to accept that the real reason for our invasion and occupation of Iraq was not related to terrorism.
They deny that our military is weaker as a consequence of this war.
They won't admit that our invasion has served the interests of Osama Bin Laden. They continue to blame our image problems around the world on a few bad apples.
They won't admit that our invasion has served the interests of Iran's radical regime.
The cost in lives lost and dollars spent is glossed over, and the deficit spirals up without concern.
They ridicule those who point out that our relationships with our allies have been significantly damaged.
We have provided a tremendous incentive for Russia and China, and others like Iran, to organize through the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. They entertain future challenges to our plans to dominate South East Asia, the Middle East, and all its oil.
Radicalizing the Middle East will in the long term jeopardize Israel's security, and increase the odds of this war spreading.