Opinion Editorials, October 2007
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Arab Gulf Region And The Giant Powers, Part I
By Ali Al-Hail
ccun.org, October 5, 2007
I. Abstract:
This article attempts to suggest that Arab Gulf States are being the victims of the recurrent standoff between the US-led-West and Iran. Historically, the Arab Gulf region was frequently, targeted by foreign powers for strategic considerations since as early, as the 14th century. Thus, the current power struggle by foreign states mainly, Iran, the USA, Israel (subsequently), and Britain owes its roots partly, to the colonial age.
II. Introduction:
The importance of the Gulf as a significant strategic sea path most notably, that of the Strait of Hormuz to Asia and to India specifically, made it an imperialist focus for centuries. In the same way, old colonies strived to invade the Arab Gulf region for the purpose of controlling the Strait, to secure their colonial route to India and Asia, new colonies of modern time do, by and large the same to dominate the Strait in order to secure their oil supply from the largest oil and gas producing region in the World. The Strait of Homuz, as at present it always was a regional source of geopolitical dispute in the past. Though, the time moved on, the object and purpose had sustained.
The Strait separates the Gulf (referred to internationally, as the Persian Gulf) to the west and the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea to the east. The strait links Iran at the north with Oman at the south. This 280 K.M. long linkage led to the formation of the peninsula of Musandam during the 14th century (known also, with the Kingdom of Musandam). Although, the U.S.A. and the rest of the West are hostile to the Islamic Republic of Iran while traditionally, maintain excellent relations with the Arab Gulf region, in their rhetoric the West oddly, uses the "Persian Gulf" instead of the term the 'Arabic Gulf' that is used by Arabs.
From geopolitical and geo-economical perspectives, the Strait of Hormuz is strategically, essential to the World at present, as it was in the past. Its acclaimed vitality derives from that, it is uniquely, the sole naval route via which the oil from Arab Gulf States and Iran is currently, shipped to the industrial states of the West.
III. Discussion:
According to Mohammed Ghanim Al-Romaihi a Kuwaiti thinker (1984), Arab Gulf region came into contact with most of old colonies. In an attempt to have it dominated by one way or another the Portugese, the French, the Dutch, the Italians, the Russians, the Americans, the Ottomans and the British, were amongst foreign powers that, invaded the region during passed centuries. The Gulf, according to Al-Romaihi, witnessed the "English horse feet before any other part in the Arab World" (Al-Romaihi, 1984, P. 35.)
Hence, foreign powers in all times, believed in that, dominating the Strait would give them an upper hand over a strategic Gulf. This notion was contemporarily, manifested by Iran when it had seized in 1971the three islands in the Gulf of Hormuz; Tunb El Kubra (the biggest), Tunb El sugra (the tiniest) and Abu Musa.
Though, these islands are claimed by the United Arab Emirates, there have ironically, never been any attempts to reclaim them, in the way Kuwait, for instance was reclaimed during Saddam's invasion in the early, 1990's. There exist theories especially, by Iranian thinkers about that, despite public enmity between Iran and the West, both parties conspire behind closed doors against Arab states pertaining to economic and roles distribution in the Arab Gulf region.
Some U.S.A.-based-Iranian thinkers went even further by suggesting an Iranian-Israeli hidden cooperation against Arab states albeit, the pro-Arab-Iranian public rhetoric. According to Ali Khalipha al-Kowari, a Qatari thinker, Iran has always been a major player in the Gulf, both at present and in the past apparently, backed by a Western consent.
Being a regional super power had largely, contributed to its dominating role in the Gulf region. Iran during different eras in the past, according to Al-Kuwari, ruled certain Arab Gulf countries. For example, Iran, during the 17th century governed Bahrain, Qatar and the emirates of the Omani coast (UAE now).
Having said that, at present, Iran possesses more than one card in the Arab Gulf region. To start with, Statistics from Arab Gulf region suggest that approximately, 40% of Arab Gulf region citizens are originated from Persian background. Further, around 40% of Arab Gulf region are shi'is. In Bahrain alone, Shi'is are estimated at around 70%.
In a time of crisis, these Arab Gulf Shi'is would quite possibly, support Iran, as they do have a degree or another of loyalty towards their Shi'i's state. Observations indicate that, the Persian-originated- Sunni-Arab Gulf citizens and their fellow-Shi'i Arab Gulf citizens for long, feel a form of racism from governments in the region by favoring their fellow-Bedouin citizens for key posts and quite few other privileges.
Additionally, being an advanced industrial country and militarily strong apparently, with nuclear ambitions could arguably, help Iran regain its traditional domination over the region, had it been challenged by the presence of foreign forces led by the U.S.A. Moreover, Iran possesses huge banks, numerous financial institutions, and massive business relations in Arab Gulf states. Approximately, $ 10 billion annually, is the size of trade between Arab Gulf region and Iran.
However, Iran is not the only, foreign power, in modern time that, aims at dominating the rich oil and gas Gulf. The U.S.A., made possible Saddam's invasion Kuwait has been maintaining declared and undeclared military bases in Arab Gulf States. The US counter-domination in the Gulf has been bolstered by the invasion and occupation of Iraq. Since the dislodging of Saddam from Kuwait by the US-ld-coalition in the early, 1990's, Israeli business persons began flowing into the Arab Gulf region for allegedly, making businesses, according to Abdllah Al-Nofais, a Kuwaiti thinker (Al Jazeera TV 2002.)
IV. Conclusion:
In the Arab World particularly, in the Arab Gulf States there has, for long, been a growing concern over the potential threat to the Arab Gulf states from foreign states. At present, the Arab Gulf States pinpoint the US, Israel, and Iran as threats to their stability.
According to the briefing:
"The Arab Gulf states view the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a major destabilizing force in the region from a political and ideological standpoint. Yet their security concerns are more local. They view the Iranian arms buildup with caution, and they view U.S. intervention and threats of military action with concern" (Congressional staff briefing, September 13, 2002, quoted in Middle East Policy Forum.)
Lacking industrial and military capabilities, Arab Gulf States find themselves obliged to balance US\Israeli demands with those of Iran. One presumes, as do many that, such a policy is the guarantee for these states to preserve and continue their developmental programs.
Many argue that, Arab Gulf states' silence towards Iran's sustainable occupation of the UAE islands is seen as part of their balancing policy. If this argument has to be reflected upon further, the US-led-West negative position towards the Islands, can be seen as part of the Western-Iranian coordination against Arabs' interests, despite declared stands and views. Observers in the region quite often, make a reference to the same negativity by the US-led-West toward Arab lands occupied by Israel, while When Kuwait was occupied by Iraq-Saddam, the US-led-West lobbied the globe and mobilized the armies, moving swiftly, to liberate Kuwait. Yet, once more again, questions arise about the US-led-West's motives, its blatant, crystal clear double standard policy and its goal justifies the means inhumane destructive philosophy.
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.
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