"The
GCC states face serious threats risking the very presence of their
political institutions. They are not defending a cause or a national,
Arabic interest, but they have given priority to their personal
security and mere presence (in power).
"I
believe this is a very reasonable and wise decision. To them, the
cause is no longer (striking) Iraq, or (liberating) Palestine, it is
the continuity of their regimes," he added, citing the latest
Powell initiative.
"The
Gulf leaders read the (U.S.) message early; that is Iraq is only the
start, and that (regime) change will exceed Baghdad to other nearby
capitals in the region. Therefore, they sought self-protection by
siding with the American point of view," Arafah said, citing the
focus on the education issue.
 |
The suffering of
the Palestinians was marginalized by the Gulf leaders
|
The
political professor and expert added that the GCC tried to send a
message to the U.S. to the effect that "they could be partners,
in an attempt to gain a space for maneuvering to prevent being
replaced with Parliamentary Republics".
However,
another political analyst called the GCC statement "an attempt to
avoid discussing the basic issues facing the Gulf states, in
particular, and the Arab world, in general".
Deputy
chief of al-Ahram Center for Strategic and Political Studies, Dr.
Nabil Abdul Fattah, accused the "tiny Gulf monarchies of trying
to jump over the boundaries of time and place, to hijack a role too
big for them".
"To
do that, they hide behind the U.S. sometimes, the oil other times.
However, in the process, they overlooked the hot issues around them
and the risks threatening themselves and their regimes. These
countries do not understand that Iraq is the first step in the U.S.
plan to control and reshape the whole area.
"The
small and weak Gulf monarchies will, for a long period of time, be
under some sort of foreign military occupation, as well as the
presence of huge numbers of foreign political and economic
consultants. Where do they plan to gain their legitimacy then? From
such foreign powers? Charged Abdul Fattah.
"The
more important question now is: Will Uncle Sam deal with them, after
devouring Iraq, in the same way he does now?! He added, citing U.S.
reports about certain currents, within the Gulf regimes, accused of
supporting "terrorist organizations" around the world.
Palestine
Cause Marginalized
As
regards the GCC statement's weak reference to the Palestinian cause,
Abdul Fattah lashed out at the Gulf leaders for not mentioning the
Intifada, nor offering concrete frames within which they could help
the Palestinians.
"This
summit represents the start of marginalizing the heroic resistance of
the Palestinian people. These GCC leaders offered the worst possible
example of Muslims and Arabs to certain segments of the western
societies. When the real danger came to our doors, they chose to
secure their own posts and security first, stepping over all other
issues and causes of interest to all Arabs," he charged.
