Monday, September 18, 2006

An Islamic Dichotomy- A Syrian Invasion?

Comment and News

It looks like the sectarian war of words that accompanied the Lebanon-Israel war is easing. Shi'a-Sunni sectarian tensions started to escalate, especially in the Persian Gulf region because of developments in Iraq, but they rose to new virulent levels during the Lebanon War last summer. The loyal media waged a hot war of words evolving mostly around suspected loyalties of the Shi'as, many of whom sympathized with Hizballah. Many Sunnis across the Middle East also sympathized with Hizballah, but the sectarian distinctions were used in the media to offset that.

In the Gulf region sectarian emotions are as strong as tribal ones, and the two often overlap. This is especially true in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, where strong alliances exist among tribes and Sunni Salafi fundamentalists. The rulers have taken advantage of that by catering to both and often encouraging it, often using this alliance for their own political ends. It is a known fact that in the Gulf region fundamentalists tend to have a simplistic view of Islamic morality: they focus on the application of the basic pillars of the faith, to the exclusion of all other ethical or moral issues that deal with accountability and the sanctity of public property and public funds. This is a great deal if you are among the potentates.

What sweetens the pot even more is that Salafi doctrine teaches loyalty to the ruler, as long as he enforces the basic pillars of Islam. This is largely based on quotes from Abu Huraira, who quoted the Prophet Mohammed as saying that a Moslem must obey and put up with his Moslem ruler, no matter how bad or evil he is. It is sort of like rendering unto God what is His and rendering unto Caesar (read oil potentate) what belongs to him and everyone else. This also makes it easier for a ruler to hold his nose and cater to these groups. Actually, in some cases both sides must hold their noses.

Jordan:
King Abdullah II, de Jordanie, yesterday expressed regret that some 'regional' powers are trying to fan the fires of sectarianism, and cause frictions between Shi'as and Sunnis. The King of Jordan is famous for his unfortunate statement a few months ago expressing alarm about a "Shi'a Crescent" across the Middle East. The King did not express any regrets for his own divisive statement. Still, the king must be raking in the oil aid money- quite a contrast with his father the Late King Hussein, de Jordanie aussi, who made the big mistake of siding with Saddam after his invasion of Kuwait. That was a lesson well learned.

Iraq:
deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih said that a new law will be passed next month allowing for disarming the militias in Baghdad. He said it will be part of a reconciliation project. Sounds like a good idea to calm down tired and bloodied Baghdad, but will the warlords play?
The I'etilaf (Shi'a) and the Kurdish Alliance made clear that they will offer the draft law on regional federalism to the Parliament this week. Opponents will petition the Supreme Constitional Court to look into some of its provisions.
Ministers of Interior (Police and Security, Interrogation, Knock-on-the-door-at-dawn) of Iraq's neighbors will meet in Saudi Arabia to discuss a Security Strategy against terrorism and keeping Iraq's borders secure from infiltration. It is not clear if they will focus on incoming or outgoing traffic.

Lebanon:
Hizballah leader Hassan Nassrallah has criticized the Lebanese cabinet and called for its replacement. The Prime Minister, Mr. Seniora, said disarming Hizballah will be done only peacefully.

Syria:
The Kuwait daily tabloid al-Siyassah claimed last week that the United States has set November 8th as the date for overthrowing the Baathist regime in Syria. So, after the votes are counted here, and before the recounts are done, the troops will drop in on Damascus, with the editor of that newspaper in the forefront as part of the cannon fodder. The paper also claims that the failedv terrorist operation at the U.S embassy was staged by Syrian intelligence with the aim of improving relations with the United States. There must be less convoluted ways to improve relations with Washington. But then it is Arabia Deserta, or is it Arabia Petraea?

Cheers
Mohammed

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