Syed Ali Safvi
Fortifying and securing Israel has always constituted the prime agenda of the United States. Whenever and wherever any anti-Israel element makes headway, US can use all its influence to crush that. America, and virtually all other Western countries are fighting what they have phrased (a misnomer) as "Islamic terrorism". However, the fact is that these nations have for long harboured an ambition to uproot Islam and Muslims from the face of this planet. So far they have successfully created dissension and discontent among Muslims and now they are cashing in. The question however is: Why only Muslims? The answer is crystal: Muslims don't recognize Israel, barring some Muslim leaders who are American stooges.
There is no denying the fact that America will try to strangulate all those voices raised against Israel, and it will not spare any country acting a threat to Israel.
America invaded Afghanistan with the purpose of nabbing Osama bin Laden. It, however, failed pathetically. But in sheer frustration and to overcome that, it massacred thousands of innocent civilians with cluster bombs and other horrific weaponry. Bush was adamant to uproot the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, which he considered a threat to "world peace" (read Israel). However, the Taliban militia is still active in Afghanistan and the clandestine visit of Bush to the region last year underlines the fact that even after six years of Afghan invasion, peace and stability is a distant reality in the country.
After invading Afghanistan, America targeted Iraq, a country headed by its so-called blue-eyed-boy, Saddam Hussain. The reason stated was that Iraq possessed Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs)(fake reality), which were dangerous for the world peace (read Israel). It soon became clear that this American SOS was a hoax, yet the whole world remained silent. Saddam's regime was toppled, and eventually he was captured, put to gallows. American invasion of Iraq will long be remembered for the infamous Abu Gharib prison, which became synonymous with American brutality. Even though fingers are now being raised accusing the US for its misadventure in Iraq, it is not prepared to leave the country. All the more it has created such conditions where the country is on the brink of a civil war.
Then came the Sabre-rattling toward Iran, whose is so called "clandestine nuclear enrichment". This, according to Bush's ersatz wisdom, is also a threat to "world peace" (read Israel). The reason is not hard to imagine: Iran has always openly questioned Israel's existence on illegally occupied Palestinian territory. The US is now trying to convince the world that Iran is on the verge of building nuclear weapons, and obviously the only way to stop it from going nuclear is to attack it and destroy it.
Meanwhile, Israeli troops, backed by America, invaded Lebanon and for the second time to bit the dust at the hands of the valiant Hezbollah militia. After remaining under Zionist occupation for more than two decades, Lebanon had to face the Zionist terror in July 2006. Hezbollah (party of God) is committed to armed resistance to the state of Israel itself and aims to liberate Palestinians territories and Jerusalem from Israeli occupation. Bush, while addressing the media at the onset of the war, said that Hezbollah was a big threat to "world peace" (read Israel). Hezbollah was formed in 1982 following the Israel's invasion of Lebanon. It was immensely influenced by the Islamic revolution of Iran and by the charismatic leadership of Ayatollah Rohullah Khomeini, who was instrumental enough to liberate Iran from the clutches of American imperialism (led by the Shah). The raison d'être of the birth of Hezbollah was to expel Jews from their country, who had occupied it by force. Hezbollah launched a campaign against the occupants and finally emerged triumphant. Lebanon was declared a free country on May 25, 2000.
Hezbollah has been labeled as terrorist organization by the United States, Israel, Canada and Australia. However, UK and Netherland think otherwise. Hezbollah, in the words of Robert Fisk, is "one of the toughest guerilla armies in the world". Yossi Alpher, a member of Mosad, the Israeli intelligence service, who used to head the Jaffe Centre for Strategic Studies at Tel Aviv University, said during the war, "I dare say, based on what we have seen so far, these (Hezbollah) may be the best Arab troops we have ever faced."
Israeli captain Doron Spielman also asserted, "They (Hezbollah) are well trained, well equipped, and ready to die as can be seen from the very small number of prisoners taken by Israeli forces."
Despite incurring mammoth war expenditure of $ 7.1 billion, Israel failed to achieve its desired target: disbanding Hezbollah. Instead, Hezbollah's stature and popularity multiplied manifolds not only in Arab countries but across the world after the war. And Sheikh Hassan Nasrullah's charismatic leadership again won him loads of accolades from some of the prominent figures of world politics.
According to the official registrar, more than 120 babies born during the Israel-Hezbollah war were named after Nasrullah in the Egyptian city of Alexandria. In Gaza city there were at least a dozen newborns named Hezbollah, Nasrullah (victory from God) or Hassan.
The query that frequently strikes the mind of everyone is why America supports Israel? This is because of the fact that Israel is one of the top ranked trade partners of America. Here are the statistical data of Israel's trade relations with three major states of America.
Total exports since 1991 from the State of California estimates to $12,562,185,030. Military contracts with Israel in 2006 using Foreign Military Financing: $137,247,762. Israel's rank as trade partner: 20. Jewish percentage of total population: 2.9.
Total exports since 1991 from the State of New York amounts to $33,387,205,896. Military Contracts with Israel in 2006 using Foreign Military Financing: $151,083,792. Israel's rank as trade partner: 2. Jewish Percentage of Total Population: 8.7.
Total exports since 1991 from the State of Washington amounts to $3,049,094,403. Military Contracts with Israel in 2006 using Foreign Military Financing: $4,301,684. Jewish Percentage of Total Population: 0.7.
America's economic and military aid to Israel in 2006 amounted to $240 million and $2.28 billion respectively. America has no other option but to support Israel because if Israel comes under attack the American economy will feel the hardest blow. One of the columnists of the Frontline news magazine hit the nail on its head, saying "America cannot restrain Israel because Israel is part and parcel of Bush's mission for the world".
America 's strong-headed support to Israel's blatant policies is slowly and steadily, transforming the political fabric of the Middle East, which could prove very costly for the U.S. in the long run. The rise of Islam as a political force has sent a shaking and shocking message to the White House. Some militant outfits have transformed themselves into political parties and have taken a different route - democracy. The Islamic political parties like Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Islamic Salvation Front in Algeria, Hezbollah in Lebanon have strongly established themselves in their respective nations. If elections of Iraq and Iran, where clerics won overwhelmingly, confirmed the rise of political Islam, the Hamas victory in the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) elections further underlined the fact.
It's an admitted fact that the US wants to create cultural, political and economic hegemony over the entire world. Despite the criticism Bush Administration was subjected to for its reasonless 'invasions' of Iraq and Afghanistan, both within and outside the U.S., it has not restrained itself, instead it is now eyeing Iran, which has, since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, vehemently criticized America for legitimizing and supporting the Israel occupation on the Palestinian territory. It is not only the matter of Iran's 'peaceful' nuclear enrichment that is troubling the self-made global watchdog, Uncle Sam, but the threat it entails for Israel, since Iran is the bitter enemy of Israel and wants it to be 'wiped off the map.'
The policy of the U.S. towards the Middle East is crystal clear: to safeguard Israel. Apparently, U.S. had no qualms when Israel, assisted by France, was making nuclear bombs. This clearly reveals White House's double standard policy. Israel is known to possess some 200 to 300 nuclear weapons in its arsenal. America claims to make Middle East a 'nuclear free zone'. But how is that possible when there is already one nuclear power existing in the heart of Middle East – Israel? If America's intentions are clear then why doesn't US ask its strong economic partner, Israel to shun their nuclear policies? Reason assertion here would suggest US to keep itself at bay regarding Iran.
However, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has given clean chit to Iran. In the second week of November, 2007, IAEA brought out a report in which it stated that Iran was generally truthful about crucial aspects of its nuclear programme.
Hawks in the Bush administration have vowed to prevent Tehran from mastering the nuclear fuel cycle. Despite IAEA's assertion that the allegations made by the U.S. and its allies about Iran's nuclear programme were baseless, the U.S. is hell bent to attack Iran "before a new administration takes over in 2008".
Vice-President of America Dick Cheney, in a tele-interview recently, vowed that the U.S. would never allow Iran to possess nuclear weapons. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice echoed Cheney's statement saying that the "policies of Iran constitute perhaps the single greatest challenge to American security interests in the Middle East."
Surprisingly, America has no problems with Egypt, Brazil and South Africa who have announced to go in for nuclear energy in a big way by building several nuclear plants. Although experts believe that Iran's nuclear programme is no different from that being pursued by many other nations.
There are also talks of economic sanction to be levied on Iran. However, there is no denying the fact that if sanctions are imposed on Iran that could prove vulnerable for the world peace, and attack on Iran will open the Pandora's Box. The only way out is peaceful negotiation. And that can be only done when the world leaders have an unbiased approach towards the world nations especially Muslim ones.
If economic sanctions are levied on Iran it can have a gargantuan impact on the oil prices, which the European Union, Japan, or even the US for that matter can not afford. Remember Iran is currently world's fourth largest oil producer. The sanctions will only make the situation more deplorable. The world leaders should keep the consequences of the possible sanctions (on Iran) into consideration and try to resolve the issue amicably. The honchos in White House should realize, as Ahmedi Nejad said while addressing the 'world leaders' summit' last year, "You need us more than we need you."
