Al-aalem Al-jadeed

A newspaper free from partisanship,
sectarianism and the influence of its owners

Threats to the Arab National Security under Biden and Trump

The Washington Post (Nov. 12) published an alarming article on the nature of the challenges  the Arab World faces as the Biden era is about to end and the dawn of a new Trump era is taking shape. Though the article was written from a western perspective, it presented a semi realistic picture of how Washington’s plan for the future of the region is  moving toward a dispiriting scenario. The author argued that the Arab world will be increasingly destabilized and the aspirations of the Palestinians and Lebanese will not be considered in any conversation regarding the region.

President Biden recently reiterated his commitment to Israel, while asserting that Washington will not be sated until every country in the region submits to the Israeli will. His selection of those responsible for the Middle East and the National Security Council (NSC) were particularly chosen to please Israel and its lobbyists. From Antony Blinken and Mathew  Miller in the State Department to Avril Haines and Brett McGurk in the NSC, defending Israeli interests has been the overriding principle.

Biden believes that by encouraging Israel to wage war on Palestinians in Gaza and to invade Lebanon, American designs for the region will be made possible. War is and has been viewed as an effective instrument for humiliating the Arabs  and ensuring their total submission to Israel. Though Biden considers this approach as a fulfillment of his religious beliefs, he simultaneously has called for a two-state solution without alienating the Israeli right-wing government.

Biden, however, fearing that an all-out war might get out of control, has opted for controlled conflicts. This strategy has often backfired, as small skirmishes have in the past transformed into  bloody battles. We’ve seen this in the case of Gaza and the chronic instability in Iraq and Libya. Not only were the consequences  unimaginable, but the cost outweighed benefits both in terms of lives lost and money spent, discrediting Washington and  leaving it in indefensible position.  

President elect Trump is embarking on a different approach. His scheme for the region reflects and mirrors his contradictory beliefs and unpredictability. So far, his appointees and nominees  for foreign and security affairs are known to be religious fanatics. They are driven by a grand scheme to transform the region into an inhospitable place for development and economic growth. Unlike Biden, who has worked hard to keep Palestinian and Lebanese children and women standing in lines begging for food and the victims of immoral bombardments, the fanatical team of the new administration will expand the genocide and deepen chaos.

The Secretary of Defense (Pete Hegseth) and the Secretary of State (Marco Rubio ), along with the  UN special envoy,  are known for their anti-Arab and anti-Muslim rhetoric.  The most dangerous are  Mike Huckabee, soon to be US Ambassador to Israel,  Elise Stefanik, envoy to the UN, and Steve Witkoff, Middle East envoy. These are all hawkish, like the Secretary of Defense and Secretary of State, and they advocate Israeli interests first and at the expense of the indigenous population in the Holy Land and the rest of the Arab World.

In his selection of those responsible for policy making, especially for the Middle East, Trump is driven by two considerations: loyalty to him and love for Israel. He made this clear when he nominated Mike Huckabee stating,  “Mike loves Israel and the people of Israel and, likewise, the people of Israel love him.”   Huckabee does not believe that there is a group of people called Palestinians, and the West Bank and Gaza, he insists, are part of sovereign Israel. He describes himself as an “unapologetic, unreformed Zionist.”

As Trump’s next administration takes shape, the Arab countries face a calamitous threat, this calamity will be unequaled in history.  Speaking on behalf of Trump, after visiting Israel, Senator Lindsey Graham asserted that diplomacy in the region would be easier because  Trump’s win. He argued that people in the Middle East are afraid of Trump stating “If you are a bad guy and you are not afraid of Trump then you are also a dumb guy. Bad and dumb guys don’t last long.” While this statement is derogatory, it represents an overt threat to those Arabs who are not willing to submit to the will of Israel.

In crafting his new administration, Trump appears to be primarily influenced by religious fanatics, be they Christians or Jews. Their goal is to steer events in the Middle East  toward bloodshed and misery. These religious fanatics seek to make the Arab World a place where Israeli plan for the region is literally implemented and those who refuse to submit will live to regret .

At this moment in history, the rise of fanaticism in Washington is real. The Arab countries are a target for subordination and  annihilation. The unfolding terrorist threats in Syria and the destruction in Aleppo should serve as a reminder of the nature and depth of calamity that Washington’s elites have in mind for the region.

The future of the region is bleak. Indeed,  the threat that Arab countries face is existential. To avert this, Arab political elites and governments must present a unified front in defending the rights of the Arab people to live in peace and dignity. This requires that Arab leaders make their moral and legitimate concerns  known in unambiguous terms. Confronting the gathering storm is possible and articulating their concerns regarding the menacing threat to the safety and security of the Arab people should take priority. The alternative will be chaos and catastrophe.

Abbas J. Ali is a distinguished University Professor, Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

إقرأ أيضا