Embarking up the hackneyed practice of divide and rule, though themagnitude and scale is unprecedented this time, the US is creating a perception in the Middle East which may help it stay in the region  indefinitely.

It is creating a sense of fear among the countries surrounding Iran regarding Iran’s hegemonic designs on the region. Certain rulers of small principalities surrounding Iran, having little contact with their own subjects, and being more interested in the prolongation of their rule then genuine welfare of their people, are willing partner to any such move on part of the US to curtail Iran’s so-called growing influence in the region.

Considering Iran as a factor, as admitted by US under secretary of state Nicholas Burn, the US  has unleashed a multi billion dollars arms race in the region. The US is pumping over 63 billion dollars sophisticated arms including satellite guided missiles, patriot missile batteries, Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) planes into the area to counter the so-called Iranian threat that not only is non-existing but also has no prospects of emerging in the future to challenge the existing power balance.

Riding upon the misplaced religious, ethnic and linguistic sensibilities of the regional rulers the US is able to woo the gullible buyers of its freak future scenario of the Middle East under nuclear Iran’s suzerainty.

Iran has taken strong exception to this move. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said ‘The United States has always had a special policy of spreading fear in the region and tarnishing existing good relations between countries in the Middle East.’

There are five implications of the present US arm race in the region that need our attention:  

Firstly the move offers devilish foreboding for the future of the region. The move is part of a grand build up against Iran so that the effect of any US-Israel air strikes against Iran’s nuclear assets can be curtailed within the region. With Patriot batteries and laser guided missiles the small principalities under US suzerainty will act as buffer zone for Israel as well as the US to neutralize Iran’s robust reaction for a considerable amount of time.

Prior to any such strike the US must build up tension and mistrust among regional states vis-à-vis Iran so that the line of divide is made clear.

Secondly, the move is bound to initiate wild arms race in the region. It is being orchestrated against Iran, Syria, Hezbollah and Hamas  so openly that it leaves little margin for such identities to remain silent. Although Aman’s foreign Minister Yussef bin Alawi bin Abdullah have come in the open quickly saying, ‘Iran is a neighbouring state and we have a common interest, which is to maintain stability and security in the region.’, yet how long this atmosphere of understanding will prevail is everybody’s guess.

The US is initiating an over 63 billion dollars project and will leaving nothing to uncertainty. A smear campaign, projecting Iran as anti-Sunni terror supporting Shia state, is bound to follow  to create a lot of bad blood among brotherly nations in the region: Devil has unlimited access to mischief.

Thirdly, the move seals the fate of regional peace for unforeseeable future. Any arm sale to Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt and GCC countries that have remained traditional anti-Israel countries, except Jordan and Egypt, is bound to raise questions.

Reportedly Israel has raised no objections to this arms package to all its traditional enemies despite the fact that so far no peace agreement has been reached between Israel and the Arab states. In 1981 when the US had promised AWACS planes to Saudi Arabia Israel had severely objected to that and the plan had to be shelved. It is not happening this time: some deeper understanding is at work which must be inhuman, irreligious, unethical and devilish in nature and contents.

Fourthly, this arm package is bound to establish Israel’s hegemony in the region. About a half of 63 billion arms cache goes to Israel. The other half is to be distributed among Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and other GCC countries which all together don’t match Nuclear Israel’s existing fire power. With US presence in Iraq and Afghanistan, if Iran being the only self supporting power independent of US hegemony is neutralised, then no power in the region can have the guts to defy Israel’s dictates: New Middle East plan will be effectively implemented.

Fifthly, the US plan to alienate Iran in cahoots with regional rulers is bound to backfire and further isolate regional despots from their masses where Ahmedi Nijad with his anti-Imperialistic ideas is more popular than their own leaders. This is the only plus point which incidentally is the by-product of a very devilish plan.

Information

Riding upon the misplaced religious, ethnic and linguistic sensibilities of  the regional rulers the US is able to woo the gullible buyers of its freak future scenario of the Middle East under nuclear Iran’s suzerainty.

First appeared in Pakistan Observer on 9th August 2007.