Opinion Editorials, October 2007
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Arab Gulf Region And The Giant Powers, Part IV: The Israeli Connection
By Ali Al-Hail
ccun.org, October 16, 2007
I. Summary Of Part III:
In part III, I discussed in details the common bonds between the US Europe and Gulf shields analyzing why the US publicly, announced that, the US Europe shield is to deter Iran. By the same token, the Russian rejection of the US announcement was thoroughly, discussed and analyzed. The Arab Gulf region's measures to please the invading giant i.e., the US and to satisfy the regional giant i.e., Iran were also, discussed and analyzed. In this part, the Israeli connection upon which nearly, the whole US intervention in the Arab Gulf region, Iraq, Afghanistan and the undergoing nuclear dispute with Iran has ironically, been based.
II. Early Connection:
Long before the current crisis between US-led-West and Iran over Iran's nuclear program, Israel hardly, hid its desire to have Arab Gulf region under its watchdog. An initial step into this direction kicked off with the bombing of Iraq-Saddam's nuclear facilities during 1981. Like the US, Israel cannot tolerate a powerful country in the region. They both conceive such a situation as a threat to their economic security in particular, since Arab Gulf region is militarily, weak, but economically, rich.
According to Jason Vest, of the The Nation, that, both the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs and the Center for Security Policy think tanks are "underwritten by far-right American Zionists" and that they both "effectively hold there is no difference between US and Israeli national security interests, and that the only way to assure continued safety and prosperity for both countries is through hegemony in the Middle East -- a hegemony achieved with the traditional cold war recipe of feints, force, clientism and covert action." (http\\ en.wikipdia.org).
Israel apparently, took advantage of Iraq's war with Iran and embarked on the strike under the US umbrella. One presumes, as do many then that, Iran though, didn’t show signs of pleasure hadn't criticized the Israeli raid, as it weakened its opponent. This observation, amongst many more that, ignited Iranian-US-based to assert that, Iran had occasionally, coordinated with Israel against Arabs' interests.
Many argue that, the invasion and occupation of Iraq in 2003, was preceded two and a half decades earlier, with the Israel's bombing of Iraq-Saddam's nuclear installations. This gave many people an impression that, Iraq-Saddam was facing two enemies. Whether did this incidence fall within the Iranian-Israeli alleged coordination, had always been most controversial.
III. How Israel Uses the US in The Middle East?:
Arguably, many believe that, the US activities in the Middle East including, Arab Gulf region, have always been associated apart from oil, with protecting Israel's security. According to John J. Mearsheimer and Stephen M. Walt, in their work paper "The Israeli Lobby and US Foreign Policy"; The Israeli Lobby in the US has extensively, been the architect behind such a conduct (the London Review of Books Vol. 28, No. 6 (March 23,2006), and http://www.lrb.co.uk/v28/n06/print/mear01_.html)
While the US has been doing all Israel wished for, Israel finds difficulties to do the same for the US in return. This observation makes Israel a formidable load financially at least, bestowed upon its shoulders. Those in the US who adopt such an opinion, often allege that, the US could abandon Israel, had the US found someone else cost effectively, upon whom it could rely.
There have been numerous examples, strengthening such an assertion:
First; Israel could not protect U.S. interests in the region neither in the past, nor at present or would presumably, in the future (albeit, its US-built powerful military.) The US didn't find Israel reliable, when the Islamic-branded-Iranian Revolution in 1979 challenged the US over the Gulf oil fluency via the Strait of Hormuz from Iran and the Arab Gulf region. This precarious position forced the US to establish its own "Rapid Deployment Force" instead.
Secondly; Although, Israel was treated by the US as a strategic asset during the Cold War, the second Gulf War (1990- 91) clearly, showed that, Israel was increasingly, becoming a strategic burden. Thirdly, the US could not make use of its Israeli bases during the war without risking splitting the US-led- coalition.
Fourthly, the Israeli predicament obliged the US to divert resources (e.g., Patriot missile batteries) to prevent paranoid Israel from behaving in a fashion that, might rupture the alliance against Saddam.
Fifthly; in 2003 when the US invaded Iraq-Saddam, history repeated itself yet, once more again. Of course, Israel was enthusiastic for the United States to attack Iraq Saddam. Since, it couldn't naturally, do it itself, for fear that, it would certainly, breakup the Arab element in the coalition, the US had to do it on its behalf and absolutely, for Israel's security and for the oil.
Being aware of the consequences, the Bush administration could not ask Israel to assist, without fracturing their Arab partners in the coalition. As such, Israel was brushed aside again.
However, many in Israel said that was a blessing in disguise to Israel. Israel by using the US, eliminated an ambitious leader who had dared to fire missiles on Israel and whose continuity would be a potential threat to Israel's security and its possible wider role in the Arab oil rich region through the US or else, unilaterally.
Professor, Dr. Ali Al-Hail, Professor of Mass Communication, Twice Fulbright
Award Winner, Fulbright Visiting Scholar and Board Member of AUSACE, ASC, IABD, NEBAA, BEA, IMDA and EAJMC American Associations.
Can be cotacted via alhailali@yahoo.com
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