The Arab World, as re-made by Obama

Submitted by Michael S (United States), Mar 29, 2015 at 18:34

I've been curious, about to what extent the countries in the area are actually involved in the Yemen operation, and in the proposed "Joint Arab Security Force". As of a couple of weeks ago, Egypt was definitely on board for the latter idea, but Tunisia (and probably Algeria) definitely were not:

• Egypt proposal for Arab force 'unrealistic': Tunisia... Thursday, 12 March 2015 18:19...
• "It's normal to have different viewpoints, but there is no dispute among the three countries [Tunisia, Algeria and Egypt] in terms of security coordination on the situation in Libya," he added...
• -- https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/africa/17480-egypt-proposal-for-arab-force-unrealistic-tunisia

There are some obvious obstacles in the way of a joint force:

1. Morocco has come on board as a Saudi Ally; and when Morocco chooses one side, Algeria reflexively chooses the other -- because of the Western Sahara dispute. Tunisia and Mauritania also seem to move in concert with Algeria. All the other Saudi Allies except Egypt take the side of Morocco in the dispute. President al-Sisi of Egypt blundered into supporting Algeria a couple of weeks ago, and is still trying to repair the damage.

2. The "Arab Force" proposed by the Saudis obviously has an anti-Shi'ite agenda, which cannot possibly elicit Iraqi participation. Oman is also likely to sit out any joint force. SA has been trying for many months to create a meaningful Gulf Cooperation Council defence pact; and Oman has announced that it will pull out of the GCC if it takes that turn. Syria and Lebanon, of course, are also Shi'a-controlled; and Syria-Damascus has been suspended from the Arab League.

• Middle East Updates / Saudi Arabia: No decision made on sending ground troops into Yemen. U.S. allies strike 14 targets in Iraq; Arab leaders to form joint security force...
• Pakistan is a regional ally of Saudi Arabia, the main Sunni Muslim power in the Gulf, but has yet to say whether it will offer military support to Riyadh's campaign in Yemen...
• -- http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/middle-east-updates/1.649349

I read the other day, that Pakistan was solidly involved in the Anti-Houthi coalition, so its wavering over military support is news to me. Saudi Arabia has been counting on Pakistan to provide a "nuclear umbrella" to them and the rest of their Sunni allies. Because China is Pakistan's main backer, and China has taken the side of Iran (and therefore, ironically, also of the US Obama-nation), I am not surprised to see them waffling over the current conflict.

If Pakistan reneges on its "nuclear umbrella", the Sunni Arab states and Turkey are likely to make a mad dash toward developing their own nukes. They can get help from many countries; but if a serious rift with Pakistan happens over this, India would probably be wooed to provide covert assistance. India, in turn, has close but quiet ties with Israel; so this situation could become interesting.

US President Obama has pursued a foolhardy course in foreign policy, from his first day in office. The main overt mistakes so far, seem to be the following:

1. Pressuring long-time US ally Hosni Mubarak to step down in Egypt (early 2011). This move instantly caused enmity between the US and Saudi Arabia, which ultimately resulted in Saudi Support for overthrowing the puppet installed by Obama & Co. to replace Mubarak, namely, Muhammed Morsi.

2. Calling for the overthrow (and lynching) of Moamar Gaddafi. This earned Obama the undying enmity of Syria's al-Assad, and along with it of his allies Russia, China and Iran. It also facilitated myriad terror groups getting Gaddafi's large arsenal into their hands and, thanks to Hillary Clinton's bungling in concert with Obama's, the death of the US Ambassador in Benghazi

3. Threatening to go to war against Assad over the chemical weapons "red line", only to almost immediately have to recant his folly.

4. Choosing to continuously fight against the Legislative branch -- leading to gridlock, sequestration and the gutting of our military budget. Our military's place on the world stage was therefore replaced by the Russians, Chinese and other actors.

5. Backing Iran (and therefore Assad) on nuclear proliferation, and the struggle against ISIL (which had been created and nurtured by Obama & Co. in its "war" against Assad).

6. Publicly turning on Israel, our only reliable friend in the Middle East.

Those are just the highlights; and the worst is yet to come.

I wish the Saudis well, in their struggle against Iran. They have a long, hard slog ahead of them, and they can expect only malicious duplicity from their useless and treacherous American "friend" in the White House. The best of all outcomes, would be a public pact between the Sunni Arabs and Israel. In an age of treachery, there's really nothing solid to stand in the way of this -- because, thanks to Obama and others, nothing is solid anywhere anymore.

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