WHY IS BUSH WOOING THE ARAB WORLD?

Commentary
Why is Bush wooing the Arab world?
By Linda S. Heard
Online Journal Contributing Writer


Aug 2, 2007, 02:02

There's an old expression that goes "Beware of Greeks bearing gifts." which has its origins in Virgil's rendition of the Trojan horse legend. Another translation reads "Trust not their presents, not admit the horse."

The Greeks have been much maligned over the centuries as the veracity of the legend is still an open question. But if we change the word "Greeks" to "Americans" the warning may well be valid today.

In a nutshell, George W. Bush is up to something and whatever it is the Israelis are becoming nervous.

The other day, we learned of $20 billion in new arms deals between the US and Saudi Arabia and five other Gulf states respectively, while military assistance to Egypt will be renewed to the tune of $13 billion.

It goes without a saying that Israel hasn't been left out. Throughout the coming decade, it will receive $30.5 billion to aid with its "defence."

This comes hard on the heels of another seemingly magnanimous gesture by the Bush administration. It seems that Bush -- the very person who directed the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq and who has studiously ignored Palestinian suffering since taking office -- has experienced an epiphany.

Without warning the so-called "Road map" is up and running. The Israelis have been ordered to quit their expansionist plans. For now that is.

Revamped endeavour

The rock star politician Tony Blair has been seconded out of obscurity to put a pretty face on the revamped endeavour. Not that he will have any real clout, mind you. His role is to help the Palestinian National Authority rebuild the nation's economy and infrastructure that have been systematically destroyed by Israel.

Are we to believe that Bush woke up one day saying something must be done to help the poor Palestinian people? Did he sob into his morning coffee cup before ringing his faithful Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to tell her to put the wheels of peace in motion?

Methinks not. This is a man who wouldn't recognise compassion if it jumped up and bit him in the face. This is a man who operates on the basis of a pay-off.

And like the devoted servant of the administration that she obviously is, Rice is playing her part to perfection. During a recent interview on America's propagandist Arabic-language network, Al Hurra, she had this to say: "The Palestinian people have waited too long for the state . . . And I believe that the Palestinians, who are intelligent people, entrepreneurial people, people who have the same aspirations for democracy and prosperity, are going to insist that the conditions are so that the state can come into being.

"And I believe that Israel understands, too, that it has obligations that need to be met and need to be met now, because the future of Israel is not under the continued occupation of the West Bank. The future of Israel is in building a strong Israeli state in places like the Negev and Galilee, as the president said in his speech."

Nuclear technology

According to Rice, the US encourages talks between Israel and Syria that until now have been consistently blocked by the US government.

The Arab League delegation that recently visited Israel bearing an olive branch has also received a pat on the back from Bush's multilingual, shoe-loving, piano-playing emissary.

And she was similarly glowing about Islam, which "is a very fast-growing religion in the United States." she said. "We could never disrespect Islam," said Rice. "Because we know that it is a great faith and a peaceful faith."

So everything in the garden is lovely: A weapons bonanza for Arab states; a peace deal on the table for the Palestinians; a rap on Israel's knuckles; and plenty of kudos for Islam.

There's more. The "new" French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, a known pro-American, pro-Israel neoconservative, last week urged the West to trust Arab nations with nuclear technology and has agreed to help Libya build a nuclear-powered desalination plant. Well . . . well . . . wonders will never cease!

The question is what is the potential pay-off to America for this unexpected largesse in weapons, Western offers of nuclear technology and frantic Middle East peace-making? Unless you're still a believer in Santa and the tooth fairy, you have to admit there's one there somewhere.

I've no proof as to what it could be but I'll take a leaf out of Michael Chertoff's, the head of US Homeland Security's book, and go with a gut feeling.

In a word, this is all about forming a Sunni Arab coalition as a buffer against Iran. Chertoff's gut says there will be a major terrorist attack on the US this summer.

If such an attack transpires, my own gut tells me it will result in the postponement of US elections, the imposition of emergency law and another US-led war.

Those who advise Arab nations not to look a gift horse in the mouth, which translated means "be grateful for presents without putting them under scrutiny," are no sages. The gifts may be fine, but beware of the strings around the wrapping.

Linda S. Heard is a British specialist writer on Middle East affairs. She welcomes feedback and can be contacted by email at heardonthegrapevines@yahoo.co.uk.

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