http://www.thefrontierpost.com/News.aspx?ncat=ar&nid=64 Today is: April 05, 2007 Thursday 16 Rabi-ul-Awal 1428 A.H.
The US War Libido and World Response Abdul Halim Mahally As local media pays more attention on domestic crises, from natural disaster in West Sumatra and amongst other things, to Lapindo Brantas in East Java, international issue seems overlooked. That the tension between the USA and Islamic Republic of Iran reached its peak. The Middle East region is nowadays surrounded by war cloud. Most probably, though sadly enough to say, Washington and Teheran would soon involve in an armed conflict. Three reasonable indications, at least, support this prediction. First, the Pentagon already appointed Admiral William Fallon as the new US Central Command, replacing General John Abizaid. Fallon is charged with multiple and yet difficult tasks: keeping Afghanistan and Iraq stable including preparing attacks on Iran. Second, the US military power has exercised the biggest joint war in the Middle East region since 2003, involving its aircraft carriers and hundreds of fighting jets. Similar exercise was taken before the US military fired missiles on Iraq in 1991 (Gulf War I) and 2003 (Gulf War II). Third, Iran was unfortunately reluctant to halt its uranium enrichment though the UN Security Council issued its two resolutions (1737 on December 2006 and 1747 on March 24 2007). To some extent, Teheran behavior shows a negative sign for dialogue and only encourages Washington to quickly invade Iran. The US War Libido The international community would once again witness the beginning of the twenty first century with shed of bloods. After the World War I (1914 1918), World War II (1939 1945) and Cold War (1948 1990), a number of states still assumed military force as a mean to settle international affairs. In the first year of third millennium, for instance, hundreds of thousand lives died in the US-Taliban war. More than three millions Afghans became refugees in Pakistan and Iran when the US and its coalition forces started bombing Taliban regime on October 7, 2001. On the name of combating terrorism and its networks, five US aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf fired 600 cruise missiles to all Iraqi territories on March 19, 2003. The Taliban regime ended with the takeover of Kabul on November 13, 2001 and Baghdad fell down on April 9, 2003. The expansionist ambition of the US war planners apparently did not cease, yet increasingly on the rise. Iran now becomes the next target of the US war libido. And Suriah, to the great extent, is possibly the most wanted after Teheran. Why should US attack Iran? President Bush Administration has, of course, strong reason on why it must bomb Iran. Firstly, Washington accused Teheran for masterminding attacks against the US and its coalition of the willing in the post Iraq war. Suicide and remote bombs are claimed as the Iranian works. Secondly, the Iranian intelligence services were held responsible for supplying arms to Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon and to the Muslim freedom fighters in the occupied Palestine by which the Israeli interests are in danger. Any attack on Israeli occupation forces would mean declare war against the US. Thirdly, Iranian government has been claimed guilty for illegal proliferation of nuclear weapons. Although the Head of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Mohammed el-Baradei assured that Teheran needs years to acquire nuclear bombs, the Bush Administration has different view. That invading Iran before it could successfully test its nuclear weapons is the best preventive measure. The refusal of President Ahmadinejad to stop Iranian uranium enrichment is seen by the US policy-makers as casus belli or smoking gun for mobilizing American military might to the Persian Gulf. World Reaction Is war between the US and Iran no more inevitable? None could easily answer. Nevertheless, I am of view that there is still a opportunity to get rid of war. First, the UN Security Council has to show its credibility as the world peacekeeper by pressuring the Bush Administration to avoid unilateral action. The US must not commit the same mistake when it failed to stem the US attacks on Iraq in 2003. It is the right time for the veto powers such as France, China and Russia to resist the US arrogance. Second, Arab states under the Arab League should express their silence voices for the US. If the Arab leaders have willingness for unity and solidarity, President Bush would not unilaterally attack Iran. Third, all Muslim countries listed in the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) must also raise the same voice. As the largest world organization after the United Nations and Non-Alignment Movement, OIC could play a very important role. If OIC member countries scattering in Middle East, South Asian, Southeast Asian and African regions eventually stand united to apply boycott or embargo on the US, I believe Washington would face significant losses for taking any irresponsible action. However, all depends on the United Nations, The Arab League and OIC. If they exhibit reluctant to act, war is truly unavoidable. resultantly, one should stop dreaming that the US war libido could automatically stop itself. [EMAIL PROTECTED] Abdul Halim Mahally Lecturer on Strategic Studies at the Department of International Relations, Universitas Pembangunan Nasional (UPN) Jakarta. Visiting Lecturer at the Universitas al-Azhar Indonesia, Universitas Muhammadiyah Jakarta, and Lecturer-in-Law at the Brimob Central Command, Kelapa Dua East Jakarta and Kedung Halang, Bogor in collaboration with the Universitas Islam Attahiriyyah, Jakarta.The writer completed his study at the International Islamic University (IIU) Islamabad on LBB (Hons) and Master of Politics & International Relations (MPIR). Author of several books, mainly "Membongkar Ambisi Global Amerika (Jakarta, Sinar Harapan, 2003), "Menguak Fitnah Besar dibalik Tragedi 11 September (Jakarta: Cahaya Kirana, 2006), " Menjarah Negeri Muslim: Menguak Agenda Besar AS Dibalik Invasi ke Afghanistan dan Irak (Bekasi: Fima Rodheeta, 2006). Go to Home Page | More Articles Copyright © 2006-7, All rights reserved @ The Frontier Post debate budget F.P. Report Rawalpindi: Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives, Pakistan (CPDI-Pakistan) demands the District ... 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