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 Clouds of war are looming

By Ahmad Mustafa, Special to Gulf News
Published: August 11, 2007, 23:04

Recent diplomatic activity in the region, involving international powers with vested interests, doesn't look like a good omen. For the past two decades, such hype has always led to disastrous developments.

A George W. Bush "funny" clip on YouTube says: "Fool me once, shame on me; fool me twice shame on me." The region has been fooled many times, especially by the parties targeting it again now - Washington, London and Paris. The French under Nicholas Sarkozy are trying to "get in" with the Americans and not to leave it all to the British. Their role in Libya's Bulgarian nurses crisis and subsequent arms deal goes hand in hand with increased involvement in Lebanon and Syria.

While former British prime minister Tony Blair is working with the Israelis and Palestinian "moderates" as a Quartet envoy, the US secretaries of State and Defence toured the region after the US announced massive military aid to Israel and some "moderate" Arab regimes to stand up to Iran.

The media and propaganda line for this heated activity is "Middle East Peace Process", if you're ready to be fooled for the hundredth time. Unfortunately, the main crisis of the region is becoming propaganda material for those seeking other ends, from Palestinian "factions" to the foreign powers, not to mention some regional players.

Such a conclusion is based on previous experiences and other indicators that tell a sane person that preparations are under way for a war, whether against Iran or between Israel and Syria, preceded by war diplomacy.

Two main features are really indicative: the Sharm Al Shaikh conferences in Egypt and ceremonial Israeli-Palestinian encounters. Since hosting the anti-terror summit in spring of 1996, the Egyptian red sea resort has become synonymous with emergency meetings that achieve none of their declared goals.

Even the underlying aim of the 1996 summit - bolstering electoral chances of then Israeli prime minister Shimon Peres against the extremist Benjamin Netanyahu - wasn't achieved. Peres was politically bruised by Hamas' devastating campaign of suicide bombings.

Again, in autumn 2000, Sharm Al Shaikh was the scene of another summit. This time, it was aimed at ending the intifada and for Israelis and Palestinians to reach a final peace agreement. Nothing happened.

 

Clandestine negotiations

After driving the Iraqi army out in the Gulf War - after which American and British military presence in the region was fortified - a Madrid conference got all parties together. Nothing happened; clandestine negotiations in Oslo led to a fragile agreement two years later. The invasion and occupation of Iraq by the Americans and the British was followed by renewed calls to "settle" the Middle East; i.e. end the Palestinian conflict.

Two regional players gained in importance: Turkey and Iran. The US, EU and Russia started drawing other plans - which mostly had nothing to do with Palestinian suffering and only had to do with these countries' regional interests and security concerns.

It's shameful for us - the parties concerned, regional and international players and the media - to fool the people of the region again. There can be no excuses this time, as it is clear what's being worked out. No need to wait for Murdoch's media to "reveal" leaked information or rather disinformation. The main people concerned, the Palestinians under occupation, are aware of all this and have become immune to it. The rest of us, in the region and worldwide, shouldn't swallow it this time.

Remember Tony Blair, as British prime minster following September 11, going on a long "war diplomacy" tour during which he made 27 official visits to the Middle East? He was talking mainly about peace, and preparing for the war against Afghanistan and Iraq. That was a typical example of "using" the core problem of the region as a cover for military action.

You can't blame those who fell prey to illusion and were easily deceived, as the media campaign was fierce and so was the disinformation campaign.

The diplomatic flurry in the region is not aimed at solving the Palestinian problem, but is an outright ploy to cover preparation for war. So, be ready for war and a possible "peace conference" that follows to achieve nothing. War would have already achieved the set goals.

 Clouds of war are looming (http://www.gulfnews.com/opinion/columns/region/10145835.html)

I get so tired of the incessant drumbeat 'Palestinians under occupation' as if it were historical fact. I'm ready for the Lord to come and take care of all of this madness. It's just a shame the world has been deceived.