Thursday, March 15, 2007

Divide and Conquer

I was planning to have a fun post this time to celebrate the end of my school work and gaining my Masters. But my terrorist kids would not allow me ;)

My favorite son A. Temi, brought this article to my attention:

The Redirection: Is the Administration’s new policy benefiting our enemies in the war on terrorism? by Seymour M. Hersh.

I don’t want to spoil your fun reading it, but in short the author provides a detailed and supported account of the otherwise notion that we are being led to a bloody sectarian war to serve the interests of the US, KSA and Iran.

To tease your appetite to read the article, here are few quotes:

“The Saudis and some in the Administration have been arguing that the biggest threat is Iran and the Sunni radicals are the lesser enemies. This is a victory for the Saudi line.”

“The Administration is trying to make a case that Iran is more dangerous and more provocative than the Sunni insurgents to American interests in Iraq, when—if you look at the actual casualty numbers—the punishment inflicted on America by the Sunnis is greater by an order of magnitude,” Leverett said.

“The Saudis still see the world through the days of the Ottoman Empire, when Sunni Muslims ruled the roost and the Shiites were the lowest class,” Frederic Hof, a retired military officer who is an expert on the Middle East, told me

Nasr went on, “The Saudis have considerable financial means, and have deep relations with the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafis”—Sunni extremists who view Shiites as apostates. “The last time Iran was a threat, the Saudis were able to mobilize the worst kinds of Islamic radicals. Once you get them out of the box, you can’t put them back.”

This time, the U.S. government consultant told me, Bandar and other Saudis have assured the White House that “they will keep a very close eye on the religious fundamentalists. Their message to us was ‘We’ve created this movement, and we can control it.’ It’s not that we don’t want the Salafis to throw bombs; it’s who they throw them at—Hezbollah, Moqtada al-Sadr, Iran, and at the Syrians, if they continue to work with Hezbollah and Iran.”
In quoting Hassan Nasrallah - Partition would leave Israel surrounded by “small tranquil states,” he said. “I can assure you that the Saudi kingdom will also be divided, and the issue will reach to North African states. There will be small ethnic and confessional states,” he said. “In other words, Israel will be the most important and the strongest state in a region that has been partitioned into ethnic and confessional states that are in agreement with each other. This is the new Middle East.”



Robert Baer, a former longtime C.I.A. agent in Lebanon, has been a severe critic of Hezbollah and has warned of its links to Iranian-sponsored terrorism. But now, he told me, “we’ve got Sunni Arabs preparing for cataclysmic conflict, and we will need somebody to protect the Christians in Lebanon. It used to be the French and the United States who would do it, and now it’s going to be Nasrallah and the Shiites.

Most members of the intelligence and diplomatic communities acknowledge Hezbollah’s ongoing ties to Iran. But there is disagreement about the extent to which Nasrallah would put aside Hezbollah’s interests in favor of Iran’s. A former C.I.A. officer who also served in Lebanon called Nasrallah “a Lebanese phenomenon,” adding, “Yes, he’s aided by Iran and Syria, but Hezbollah’s gone beyond that.”



The idea is that it is in the interest of all the big players in the region for us to break down into fighting and independent racial and religious groups. BUT, neither of those players gives a damn about us. The only thing we have to survive is our UNITY. Our unity and consolidation saved us before and will save us in the future.

32 comments:

wonders.me said...

Congratulations on your degree :)

Thanks for that article. I read it with resentment, though.

For the longest time, I’ve been wishing for American pressure on our region. To push for reform and spread their supposed hope for liberty. I believed they had a solution to our stagnant situation - where individual states maintained and fueled an unhealthy status quo through consumerism and political apathy.

Here they are now. Now in the midst of things. In and amongst us. Instead of preaching hope and identifying the rights of people, they identify political factions and sectors of lands.

How fooled was I. How fooled are we? Again? Still? This has happened before.

Now they try to claw-back. Thinking they’re not in it too deep. Thinking they understand, and that they know how it is. Misunderstanding the people again, and thinking the representatives actually represent. In between, the labeled will fight like they did before. They will try to fight for a right they deserve. Neglected for years, which allowed for others’ hopes to set in.

The article didn’t help. They talk strategy and labels on peoples heads. They probably even color-code them on maps. The premise is wrong.

We should start from where it counts – the individual and their rights. Especially now in Iraq. Basic needs and support. Without it, there is no hope. What sets in is fear, resentment, and an open will. The violence erupts from that void.

UmmEl3yal said...

Hi Guys,

I wrote LONG replies and lost them both :(
I will try again!


Dear Wonders.me,

Thank you! I did not get to celebrate my degree yet :)

I totally understand your feelings.

The problem is, as Arabs, we always look for a savior; someone to help us and save us from our destiny. But the real help we need is within us. Only we can help us neither the US or our Goverments can, will or even want to.

I agree that basic human rights are the minimum requirement for sound judgement free from fear or need. But this is just a first step.

P.S. loved your blog


Dear Jashanmal,
The whole blog is yours. Feel free to comment as long and as frequent as you wish. You're also free to hijack the post at any time ;)

28 is too early to reach such pisimistic conclusions .. wait a decade or two.

It is true that the whole ME is boiling and we are not ammuned agaist a civil war anytime or anywhere. Especially that the mighty forces are playing us like 7a6ab damah :(

But this should not be our destiny. We can fight this and build a better future if we want to.

The hope is in you the younger and better educated generation.

UmmEl3yal said...

Jashanmal,

LOL ,, The US Deform :) Love it!

Wallah, despite apearances, your generation is more mentally open and internationally emposed. That make you more open and ready for change and breaking out of the molds we've been in for ages.

Witty said...

Umm El3yal hon :**

There are no free brain cells left in my head to comment on your 'once again highly *discussable*' post (Is there such a word? lol)

Anyhow, am only here to say ALF ALF ALF MABROOOOOOOOOOOOOK el MASTER :D you go, girl :****** when are you becoming a shrink?? I need emotional and spychological healing after my degree :s

(gonna read the article and comment later if I live to see the weekend lol)

UmmEl3yal said...

Witty love,

Thanks :) I am qualified now to be a shrink and I provide FOC services to my friends :) Not sure yet if I want to make a business out of it.

Wish you the best during this weekend ;)

Awaiting your discussion!

Anton Pannekoek said...

what unity are talking about if we have a fundamentalist movements like Hezbollah who wants to partition Lebanon. Yes, the Shia radicals are the ones who are aggressive. they want to have the Bomb in order to establish their domination all over the region.
the report simply does not worth reading because it contradict it self. Once they claim that Iran is the threat and once again they said that we should dismantle Sauid Arabia.
i think it is another conspiracy theory approach to a complicated problem.
Honey, Iran is a threat not only to the US but to the whole region, that is of course including Kuwait.
Unity is the Unity of the Gulf States in front of the Shia radicals (Iran) and the Sinni radicals (al qaida).
one more thing, the Moslem brother hood does not have a very good relation with the saidis in fact they hate the saidis.

Allf Mabrook on your degree... :)

Hitman1 said...

Congratulations on the Masters degree.

I believe that the source of all the trouble in the middle east is not coming from the Sunni Shi3a thing but rather it is coming from the US protecting its interest.

1) US invaded Iraq and triggered the whole mess there

2) US sent Israel to try to destroy Hizb Allah

3) US creating all the tension with Iran

4) US creating tension with Syria

5) US building all those military bases in the gulf

Witty said...

Umm El3yal hon, am back :*

OK! Very, very short concentration span, I have! So, didn't read the whole article. Sounded like it's going on and on about a single idea! Redicretion of American policy/attention in the region to Iran, rather than Iraq and Al Qaeda, etc.

I'm no analyst, but I'll blabber about it while sitting comfortably in my chair.

The US policy has always been Divide and Conquer, as you correctly put it. They let Bin Laden roam around to justify every single action they take and foot they step in the Middle East! 'We are fighting terrorism in its cradle'; they say!! Word is out that the French troops have spotted Bin Ladin twice before and were ready to take him. But when they asked the Americans, a reply came back: 'take no action'! (This was in the news here a few days ago.)

The article is correct in stating that the Sunnis have caused much more damage to the Americans than Shiites, yet the Americans are now 'redirecting' their attention to Iran. This is merely due to the fact that they want to stop any Nuclear activity there. But since they can't find evidence that Iran is using Uranium enrichment to make any nuclear weapons, they are now saying that the Iranians are meddling with Iraq's stability! This is EXACTLY similar to their previous allegation that Iraq had weapons of mass distruction, just to justify the invasion!!

The only reason they are sparing KSA now is purely to protect their financial and economic interests in the region! Heck, you never heard the King of Saudia Arabia saying: 'we're bombing Israel and freeing Palestine'! Besides, the Americans have military basis over there! So why lose such a wealthy valuable ally?

Hmmm.. chenni eshta6ait?? hehe Enough said!! back to work.

(yemken ared ba3dain ate7al6am some more lol)

Temetwir said...

alf mabrook 3ala ilshahada mother dearest, menha lela3la inshalah :)

UmmEl3yal said...

Hi AP :)

There is no contradiction in the article. And if you really read to the end you will see that your statement about HA wanting to divide Lebanon is not founded.

Iran is a problem, maybe but as Witty rightly said, we can't take the US word for it. And this is the main idea behind the article; the American strategy is aiming to make Iran the new bo3bo3 that gives them a reason to stay after their failure in Iraq.

As for the past 10 years, terrorists threats came from Al-Qa3ida and Al-Ba3th; both Sunni groups. So the Shi3i "terror" is over exaggerated - as per the American sources ;)

As for the KSA and US relationship with Islamic groups I suggest you read: The Devil's Game http://www.amazon.com/Devils-Game-Unleash-Fundamentalist-American/dp/0805081372/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-2974142-8002222?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1174067390&sr=1-1

The Saudi created and funded these groups and then lost control on most of them .. Something like Frankenstein !!

UmmEl3yal said...

Dear Hitman1,

Thanks! And I couldn't agree more :) Unfortunately not everybody is aware of the ongoing game and many are easily lead by the formal media. So if we're not careful we can easily begin pointing fingers at each others.


Witty hon,

Wallah your couch works ;) Great analysis dear. Totally agree!

Yalla we want to celebrate your PhD soon ;)



A. Temiiiiii,

Thank you dear :) Now me too can be A. Ummel3yal ;)
No plans for "a3la"yet. I need a break!

I know your initial comment on the Article was about the pre-planning of Lebanon war. But I found the bigger picture more interesting and relevant.

Witty said...

I'll let you borrow my couch when you open for business ;)

Anonymous said...

Woooo Hoooooo! Your PhD! that's worth a celebration!

And now - US policy. It's painful for me to read these analyses. I'm American. I'm more skeptical than jashanmal . . .and I think you give US policy makers WAAAAYYYYY too much credibility.

I read the New Yorker article all the way through. It's a compilation of a lot of talking heads, not a well thought out policy. I'm sorry to tell you this, I don't believe we have a comprehensive policy. I don't believe for a heartbeat we intend to Divide and Conquer - it's just not the way we operate, not the way we think. And c'mon, all you have to do is to look at the quagmires we get ourselves into - would rational policy makers do that?

Are we working with all the information? Who is making the policy decisions? Who is making the operational decision?

Again - you give us way too much credit for rationality. Sorry. It's a mess. We are going to have to learn to find a way to work together, all of us, not "whover has all the marbles calls the game".

Witty said...

Oh, WOW, an American :D
Umm El3yal, excuse my 'nosiness', but I'd like to say something to Intlxpatr.

Intlxpatr
Welcome fellow American :) Hope you like it in Kuwait :D
(Just to ease up what am about to say next lol)

Unfortunately, your 'inefficient, messy, incredible' leaders are the ones who call the shots around the world. It's bad enough that they can veto any 'fair' decision at the UN. Let alone the fact that the whole country is being led by an imbecile.

Ironically, Americans keep whining about Bush and his policy, yet elected him twice. And we whine about the American policy in the Middle East, yet 'r leaders back them up in every stupid move they make.

True story, I saw an American soldier wandering around in Sharq mall carrying a huge machine gun. He scared the heck outta me! I actually went up to him and said: Why the hell are you carrying such a weapon in a shopping mall among civilians?!!! He apologised and said he had to! When I told my friend the story, she said: your goverment (the Kuwaiti gov, that is) allowed them to do so!!

The funny thing is that 'the one who lost his marbles' is the one who calls the game! :)

*AH! I miss Clinton!*

UmmEl3yal said...

Hiiiiii Intlxpatr :)

Great to have here!

Many of my American friends share your view. They think the mess they (and us) are in is caused by G.B. Jr. IQ, or lack of it.

Though I do not dispute his IQ, I really don't see the actions of the US Goverment as a random act of stupidity. Large businesses and corporation are benifiting at the expense of the US and the Middle East people. Just check how many financial problems has Dick Cheney has been involved in so far.

How do you justify the move of Huliburton's headquarters to the UAE?

I'm not a big fan of conspiracy theories, but I don't think this one is a theory any more :)

UmmEl3yal said...

Witty love,

Just one comment, he was not really elected the second time :)

Plus, check the results of our elections .. LOL .. the results do not always reflect the majority's aspirations :(

Witty said...

OUCH, Umm El3yal!

That one hurts LOL

May I just add then that around $13b was lost, literally lost, in Iraq. Financial gain, indeed!

UmmEl3yal said...

Witty, Sorrrry :) But facts are facts .. LOL

I was about to write about the "misplaced" oil of Iraq but then slipped my mind .. Thank you for the reminder :) You must be on your couch ;)

Anonymous said...

1000 mabrook 3al masters....you are a hard worker and I knew you can do it :)

and in regards to the article....way7aaaaaaa galbii

I cant do alot of reading...but the quotes you posted...highlight it....just one question...why all this alliance between enemies against the Shitt'es as they say..I like to use Shia thank you very much. I think all their planning and al "kho6a6" malathum sends a message to ALL muslims...wake up and smell the roses youba...they are striping out identity and we are helping them big time....malat 3ala kel w7ed ekrah alshia...GOD BLESS Hizboallah...ehoma eli rfa3aw rasna wallah

I will end from a quote from a poem I heard somewhere bas so true walah " allah karim egool...bas hatha routine...sa7 namshi fog alga3 bas e7na mayteen"

Witty said...

Umm El3yal, love

don't worry about it ;) And yeah, it was the weekend and I was gloriously vegging out on my 'wise' couch lol

But the $13b I meant were actual money, sent from the US (aal eah) to restore/reconstruct Iraq after the war. I've seen footages of American soldiers actually playing ball with stacks of money!!

o bas.. I dwelled loads!! New post please? :D

Anonymous said...

*holding my head and groaning* oh me, oh my!

I don't have all the answers. First, GB Jr and Cheney are big business all the way, and there is a lot of secret handshake kind of stuff that seems to have gone on. $13b (groan) is a drop in the bucket. We have lost thousands of irreplaceable lives, have at least double that in wounded and mutilated, with no end in sight. My heart goes out to the Iraqis; most of the more recent victims are the innocents. Iraqis are targeting one another, people who used to live in peace with one another, who intermarried. . . it is heartbreaking.

I think Halliburton is making the move for two reasons - decreasing their tax exposure and decreasing their oversight - meaning in the US, they are obligated to provide information; they have to provide transparency, and in Dubai, they will have to meet fewer requiremnts. They can operate with fewer restrictions.

But here is another truth - I am just guessing. I think GB2 went into Iraq because of a father-son thing, and found a tar-baby. We've created a big mess. I don't think it was rational. Clearly, no-one anticipated we would be there this long. We don't know how to make it better.

Today on Good Morning America, they showed the results of a lengthy poll of Iraqis which show that their lives have hugely decreased quality just in the last TWO years. That is after the invasion.

I wonder what would have happened if we had just left Saddam to die a natural death. . . Who would be in charge? Would the status quo hold?

People who stick their noses into other people's business get their noses tweaked. I guess it happens with nations, too.

What do you suggest? How do we solve this?

(Witty, Yes, I like it here.)

(Soldier with machine gun in Shark Mall????? Arrgh!!)

We would like to think our national leaders make rational decisions, but I don't believe they do. I think they surround themselves with people whose opinions they like, and they give less weight to information that is not convenient to their mind sets. When they make a decision, they may think they are being rational, but they have skewed the basis on which they make the decision.

UmmEl3yal said...

7akiiiiiiiiMa :)

How are you?! 7imdilah 3 salama :*
Are you sure they just fixed your eyes? You sound more like Temi ;)

Witty love,

I agree with Intlxpatr, lives are more expensive than the dollars they spent :(

Intlxpatr hon,

I think the US people spoke their minds in the last elections giving the Administration the message lound and clear that they are against what is happening.

We can't change the damage already done. Our celebration of getting rid of Saddam was short lived. I am sure the Iraqis wish he was back. At least they could go to work and do their shopping safely on his days :(

The US is trapped in Iraq. Leaving now can only cause more damage. But there has to be clear plans of leaving AND building. The Iraqi people and the Middle East in general need to see SOME benifit of the tragidies that are going on. So far all plans are towards settling in and explioting the country even more :(

Anonymous said...

lol!

maybe the laser effected my brain cells as well.

We have discussed the article...most of the commenters here understood it well and most agree on it...

Now what?

We read and analyzed it...should we really turn out backs and get back to our daily routines...ignoring the FACT that they are on to us( as silly as it sounds =D but its true)

for all we know...we could be just like the civilians in Iraq and lebanon who suddenly found themselves without homes and are in the middle of a war zone.

Everytime I watch Arabic channel news...it shows images of suicide bombed streets and people lying half dead on dirty hospital beds.

I want a safe world for my kids to grow up in.......is that too much to ask??

Anonymous said...

Thanks Ghasheema for shedding the light on a very important character we have in this part of the world and that is we are very conformist. We react but that’s it and then as you said we tend “to turn our backs and get back to our daily routines..."

For me it fits with the preconceived ideas people associate with a typical middle eastern person.

Delicately Realistic said...

Hope u had a great mothers day mama :*****

Anton Pannekoek said...

Hi again,

So you are telling me that “Tasder el thawrah” (exportation of revolution) principle that was founded by Khomini and “7ezb el da3wah” is a very peaceful organization with a very peaceful principle… come on give me a break, do not be a bias. I respect all Shia, but I’m not welling to give up the fight against the radical ones whether they are Sonis or Shias’.
A fact is a fact, Iran is trying to expand. They took bolochestan, Arab estan, and part of other minorities. They are an aggressive country and they should be stopped. And I hope dismantle to small states, each minority with its own state. Look at the minorities in Iran they suffered under the Shah and they are still suffering under the Mulla’s. Iran should be sized as a state in order from us to live in peace. And to do so we have to empower the minority groups… or to be invaded like Iraq.
I do not trust the US, but at least without the US I would be living in Saudi Arabia as a refugee. What did Iran give us? Let us look… thy try to kill the Amir… terrorize Kuwait and killed many lives during the booming of the cafes (black Thursday)... the list is soo long (the black list that is)
Honey, Iran and the Shia radicals is a threat not to us only but to the Shia in Kuwait too

Take care…

UmmEl3yal said...

7akima love,

Living in peace in one of our basic human rights. But we don't really "ask" for it or wait for other to etfathallon 3laina :)


Hussein Dear,

First of all you need to have your own blog soon :) I think we all will benifit of what you know and say. If you don't wish to create one, you are welcome to share mine :)

Second, I loved your post! Very true and very related to 7akima's question.

Eastern cultures in general have what is called an "external locus of cotrol" which, in brief, means they (we) believe that control over their enviroment lays outside themselves. This is typically due to relgious beliefs, political oppression, authoritarial education and upbringing and many other factors. So, unlike Western cultures, the belief in the inividual's ability of creating a change is very limited. So we tend to "wait" for others (God, our father, tribe head, teacher, Amir, King .. etc) to make a change.

Yet, as with any aspect of cultural characteristics, they are dynamic and can change :)

UmmEl3yal said...

Hi AP :)

Not sure how you got the idea that I think that "“Tasder el thawrah” (exportation of revolution) principle that was founded by Khomini and “7ezb el da3wah” is a very peaceful organization with a very peaceful principle" or that I am "biased" .. LOL

I have put Iran in the same categry as the US and KSA. All 3 have their own agendas that won't serve us well. And all 3 are hypocrites in preaching what they don't do.

The point is, that all what you refer to is 15 years ago in Khumaini's era. Since then, Iran has been weakened by wars with Iraq, US embargo and million of internal problems. They, as the article clearly shows, are not the current most present threat.

Check the events of the past 10 years across the world and you will see that most if not all terrorist threats are Sunni rather than Shi3i.

The Irani/shi3i threat is exaggerated by the US lead media and our phobia of Shi3i power.

UmmEl3yal said...

DR love,

Great to "see" you! I had a great Mother's Day. Thank you! Hope you've had a great day with your 'other' Mom ;)

Anonymous said...

Dear UmmEl3yal,
I am happy to move your definition of Eastern cultures foward . I hope you don't mind.

UmmEl3yal said...

Hussien dear, not at all :) I'm actually very happy that I made sense :D Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Thanks...

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