This Resistance Must Succeed

Unlike the American assertion, the Iraqi resistance or struggle for freedom is not terrorism. This, in fact, is a genuine struggle for freeing a country that the Americans have occupied unjustly and illegally. Although not a paragon of virtues and legalities, the UN is seen by many as an international institution that carries out things in proper legal manner. This much, atleast, may be discerned from what so many countries have been saying with regard to sending troops to Iraq at American request. The insistence on clear UN sanction for doing so bears testimony to the fact that the world at large still looks at this organisation as the watchdog of international law and national sovereignties, even though it has failed us many a time. And the United Nations regards the US as the occupying power. The next natural step should have been to condemn occupation and demand the unconditional withdrawal of Anglo-American forces from Iraq. Unfortunately what is desirable has not happened at the UN. The Iraqi resistance against the occupying forces, therefore, is genuine and deserves the moral support of those who stand for fairness, justice and internationalism. It is indeed shameful that a country has unjustly been occupied by another country in our 21^st century. This illegal occupation, therefore, must end in order to save the 21^st century man from being called uncivilized.

The Americans believe in immediacy and, therefore, in conflict management rather than conflict resolution. Having been convinced about the non-existence of weapons of mass destruction, they attacked and occupied Iraq. The neo-conservatives, who call the shot in Washington today, had developed a false belief that the Iraqis will welcome them and thank the US for liberating them. On this premise they thought that their army’s job will be short: a swift occupation, even swifter return of Iraq to normalcy and then the installation of a puppet government in Baghdad that will rule the country in accordance with American design.

But things have not happened in Iraq the way the Americans wanted. The unexpected but sophisticated resistance has frustrated their new scheme for the Middle East. It now appears that the Americans have been caught in the Iraqi quagmire.

What is America’s new scheme for the Middle East? In short it is all about the safety of Israel by making it apparently militarily invincible, and control over the region’s oil. With Egypt cut off and bribed into isolation from the Arab mainstream and Iraq decimated through a tough sanction regime, Israel does not feel any threat to its security. Iran’s nuclear ambition is creating some problems but Tel Aviv’s Western friends, particularly the US are already out to prevent Tehran for succeeding in its programme. With Iran marginalized, specially if the West succeeds in its present stand off with Tehran, the threat to Israel’s security will vanish for foreseeable future.

But the control over the oil is still a far cry. Historically speaking, it was the technology of the West that discovered and marketed oil internationally. But the Arabs realized the importance of oil wealth for world industrialization and gradually took its control. The Western experts are still there, and perhaps the industrialized West will always be there as a valued customer. However, the Arabs, specially after the formation of the OPEC, have always exhibited a good deal of independence in deciding the level of production and pricing much to the chagrin of the neo-cons lobby which has close relations with the oil tycoons of Texas.

The occupation of Iraq, therefore, is meant to send a strong signal to the OPEC to behave and toe the American line. The Americans already control the oil policy of Kuwait and have a good deal of influence on that of Saudi Arabia. Now with Iraq in their kit, they are well placed to control OPEC and sideline countries like Iran that still think in terms of national interests.

The American game plan is clear now. They have occupied Iraq in order to control the entire region, specially its oil and ensure the continued supremacy of Israel over the Arabs. The Arab states, as well as the Islamic world, has to understand what the Americans are upto in the Middle East. Those who still think that the US is their friend and protector specially need to rethink and redesign their policies accordingly. Their options are limited: they have either to accept a subordinated existence, learning their lessons specially from the fate of Saddam Hussein or face the American wrath. Israel’s recent aerial attack on Syria further strengthens this line of thinking.

The Arabs who still want to live with dignity and maintain their sovereignty are destined to face a difficult time. And in order to fulfil their cherished dream they have no option but to cleverly support the Iraqi resistance. They must ensure that America fails in Iraq; it is good not only for them but also for the world at large. Indeed by frustrating American designs in Iraq they would render yeoman service to the world.

[October, 2003]