Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Arab countries fear being cut out by U.S.-Iran talks
Politics, Security, Region
(AP) -- Arab officials and commentators said Tuesday they feared the budding dialogue between Washington and Iran could cut them out of the debate over the future of Iraq, one of the region's most important countries. Many of Iraq's Sunni Muslim-dominated neighbors worry that the U.S.-Iran dialogue could boost Iran's already enormous influence over the Iraqi government and security forces.
Iraq and Iran are both majority Shiite nations. But unlike Iran, which is Persian, most of Iraq's 27 million people are Arabs. "Iraq should not be stripped out of its Arab identity, especially as Iraq is one of the outstanding members and founder of the Arab League," Ahmed ben Heli, the Arab League's undersecretary general told reporters in Cairo on Tuesday.
Iraq and Iran are both majority Shiite nations. But unlike Iran, which is Persian, most of Iraq's 27 million people are Arabs. "Iraq should not be stripped out of its Arab identity, especially as Iraq is one of the outstanding members and founder of the Arab League," Ahmed ben Heli, the Arab League's undersecretary general told reporters in Cairo on Tuesday.
He cautioned that the United States and Iran are "not the only sides ... concerned with the situation in Iraq." "Developments in Iraq should not be conducted away from the Arabs' interests. As neighboring countries, we have interests because Iraq is part of the Arab League," he said. Gulf states fear being dominated by a resurgent Iran that, many believe, could be armed with nuclear weapons in a few years.
Abdulaziz Sager, the director of Dubai-based Gulf Research Center said there were concerns because Monday's talks skirted the issue of Iran's nuclear program. Iran denies U.S. accusations that it is secretly trying to develop nuclear weapons, saying its program is peaceful.
They also fear being sandwiched in a possible U.S.-Iran war in which they would likely become Iranian targets. The U.S. keeps 40,000 troops on bases in Gulf states and another 20,000 in Mideast waters. Ahmadinejad said this month that his country would retaliate against any U.S. attack. He called on Gulf states to evict the American military from the region and instead join a regional alliance with Iran.
The Gulf leaders gave a cold shoulder to Ahmadinejad's courtship, preferring America's security to domination by Iran. For that reason, Arab leaders want Washington to succeed in Iraq, Sager said. They worry that if the Americans leave Iraq too soon, it will fall into Iran's hands. "The Iranians are forging ahead with their plans for the whole area. Their ambitions are endless," said Fouad al-Hashem, a columnist with Kuwait's Al-Watan newspaper.
Abdulaziz Sager, the director of Dubai-based Gulf Research Center said there were concerns because Monday's talks skirted the issue of Iran's nuclear program. Iran denies U.S. accusations that it is secretly trying to develop nuclear weapons, saying its program is peaceful.
They also fear being sandwiched in a possible U.S.-Iran war in which they would likely become Iranian targets. The U.S. keeps 40,000 troops on bases in Gulf states and another 20,000 in Mideast waters. Ahmadinejad said this month that his country would retaliate against any U.S. attack. He called on Gulf states to evict the American military from the region and instead join a regional alliance with Iran.
The Gulf leaders gave a cold shoulder to Ahmadinejad's courtship, preferring America's security to domination by Iran. For that reason, Arab leaders want Washington to succeed in Iraq, Sager said. They worry that if the Americans leave Iraq too soon, it will fall into Iran's hands. "The Iranians are forging ahead with their plans for the whole area. Their ambitions are endless," said Fouad al-Hashem, a columnist with Kuwait's Al-Watan newspaper.
Labels: Ahmed ben Heli, Arab League, Gulf states, Iran, Iraq, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, U.S.
