Arab Opinion of Regimes, Poll on Iran, Algeria Again

Middle East Analysis

The Arab satellite news television station aljazeira has published results of an interesting ongoing poll of its viewers on the web. The poll is about whether Iran’s nuclear program represents a threat to neighboring countries. The results, so far, indicate that only 27.5% answered with (yes), while 72.5% answered with (no). Probably the results indicate the huge population imbalance between Arab countries on the Persian Gulf, and the rest of the Arab World. Most likely, those in the Gulf region, especially Saudi Arabia, would vote yes, with the probable exception of Iraqis. Those farther away would vote overwhelmingly (no), which is reflected in the high percentage of that vote. Arabs farther away look at the issue without the baggage of regional worries and inter-Gulf ethnic and sectarian tensions. They see it in terms of parity with a nuclear Israel, their perception of US foreign policy stance, and their inclusion of Iran as part of an ‘us vs. them’ struggle.

There is probably a deep disappointment among many people when comparing their own governments with Iran- a point of greater importance than the state-controlled or censured media would convey. They perceive the regime, and the country, as much more independent than their own regimes from Western control and coercion. Mr. AhmadiNejad’s defiant stance against the United States (and the World community as represented by the industrial countries) is admired by many when compared with their own leaders. In that sense, the Iranian leader’s recent rhetoric was addressed as much to the Arab, and wider Moslem, audience, as to it was the Iranians and Americans.

However, admiration for his stance on the nuclear and broader Middle East issues does not mean support for an Iranian-style theocracy. There are some in the Arab World who would like some form of religious regime, especially the Salafis who yearn for a return to their own vision of what the Islamic world was supposedly like 14 centuries ago. In reality, the Moslem World was nothing like what they envision. It was more tolerant than the Salafi doctrine, even though its history was one of continuous warfare and bloodshed.

Looks like some form of armed conflict is imminent between Hamas and the Fatah cadres in the Palestinian Territories. The pie is under threat, but they are still fighting for its slices.

The Algerian president is making an issue of his demand that France apologize for its many years of colonialism. I wish Mr. Bouteflika himself would have the courage to apologize to his people for the mismanagement and corruption of his own Party, the FLN, in the years since independence. Come to think of it, I wish all Arab regimes would apologize to their peoples, and then at their next summit, they can all hold hands- Kings, Emirs, Potentates, and Dictators- and sing Kumbaya.

Cheers
Mohammed