-Caveat Lector-
8/6/01
TROUBLE IN THE HOLY LAND
'Moderate' Saudis
now talking war
Ambassador says taking on
Israel
must not be ruled out
(C) 2001 WorldNetDaily.com
A top Saudi Arabian official says
"moderate" Arab states Egypt and
Saudi Arabia should not rule out war
with Israel.
In a signed article in the London daily
Al-Hayat and translated today by the
Middle East Media Research Institute,
Ghazi Al-Quseibi, the Saudi
ambassador to the United Kingdom,
says Arab states need to overcome
their fear of a war with
technologically superior Israel – a
war, he says, whose result is not
inevitable if the Jewish state is forced
to fight on two fronts.
While many Arab states – including
Iraq, Yemen, Sudan and Syria – have
called for war with Israel since the
outbreak of the Arab uprising led by
the Palestinian Authority, this article
is the first hint of a shift in thinking
by the wealthy oil state with close ties
to the West.
In the article, titled "To Consider
What We Dare Not Consider," Al
Quseibi writes: "Richard Nixon writes
in his memoirs, and it is confirmed in
the memoirs of Kissinger, that during
the Vietnam War he wanted to give
his enemies the impression that he
was a 'madman,' whose reactions
were unpredictable and who could do
just anything. He made sure,
throughout the entire crisis, to
maintain this impression among his
enemies, and in his words and deeds
enhanced it. Before him, John Foster
Dulles skillfully practiced what was
known as a policy of ‘brinkmanship.’"
"I don’t mean to analyze these two
men or to praise their policies," Al
Quseibi writes. "What is important is
to understand that an enemy who can
know for sure that the behavior of his
rival will not stray in any way from a
certain framework, can freely act
against him. The situation is different
when this certainty doesn’t exist."
He continues: "I am sure that this
situation exists today between Israel
and the Arab states. On the one hand,
the entire world is under the
impression that Israel, regardless of
[which party] is in government, can at
any given moment carry out an insane
military action capable of igniting the
entire region. On the other hand, the
Arab states have become trapped in a
series of agreements, summits and
declarations – in the cage of peace, no
matter what. You don’t have to be a
genius to understand that under these
circumstances, Israel can 'carry on' as
much as it likes. They do this
consistently without fearing any true
Arab reaction."
"Why are we afraid of a
comprehensive war with Israel?" he
asks. "Why has the mere talk of
comprehensive war with Israel turned
into forbidden territory? Why do we
believe that the thought, the mere
thought of this option, is a dangerous
and irresponsible act?"
Al-Quseibi suggests it is time for
Egypt to put aside its peace
agreement with Israel in favor of
protecting its national interests.
"It is true that there will be no war
without Egypt and it is true that there
is a peace agreement between Egypt
and Israel," he writes. "But since when
have peace agreements deterred the
outbreak of a war, when from the
point of view of the leaders, the
highest national interest entails the
need for war?"
He also hints that such considerations
by Egyptian leadership are a reality
today.
"The undeniable truth is that the
Egyptian leadership has once again
begun to seriously consider the
possibility of war," he writes. "In this
framework we can understand the
declarations of the Egyptian
President, Husni Mubarak, regarding
Egypt’s ability to protect the Aswan
Dam and his declarations that what
happened in 1967 cannot happen
again. Furthermore, the press has
reported that he went to Moscow on a
specific mission to determine what
kind of support he can garner in the
case of the outbreak of war with
Israel. The Egyptian president is an
experienced leader with sensitive
nerves. However, Israel’s actions have
made him think the unthinkable,
namely about what the Arab leaders
need to do."
Al-Quseibi writes that Israel is not
invincible when fighting on more
than one front.
"Israel’s superiority is at its
foundation a mental superiority," he
writes. "Israel’s strong points are
known and we have memorized
them. However they have mortal
points of weakness [as well] that we
cannot ignore. First of all, Israel is
unable to fight efficiently on more
than one front, as was proven in the
October 1973 War. Secondly, Israel
cannot absorb a large number of
casualties. This we witness with our
own eyes every day. Thirdly, Israel is
unable to withstand a war of attrition.
The present Palestinian Intifada has
already tired them out more than all
of the previous wars with the Arabs
put together. Taking advantage of
these weak points, in addition to the
element of surprise, are a guarantee
for bringing the Israeli 'giant' down to
size."
The key to victory, he writes, is
Egyptian-Syrian cooperation --
something that has not occurred in
Middle East politics since the 1973
Yom Kippur war.
"What could be better than a
repetition of what happened in 1973?"
he asks. "What we need is
Egyptian-Syrian cooperation, with the
back up of the oil states with their oil,
and the rest of the Arab states, each
according to its ability. Such a military
confrontation, especially while the
Intifada is going on, and at a time
when the possibility of the Arab
community within Israel to take
action, will turn all the tables and all
of the facts upside down."
While falling just short of calling for
war, Al-Quseibi's article is the clearest
evidence of a new thinking among the
leadership of Saudi Arabia.
"I am not a supporter of war, but I
warn you that entirely ruling out the
option of war from the agenda, is the
surest guarantee for the continuation
of Israel’s superiority – and with it the
arrogance, the bloodshed, and the
rampage – forever!" he writes.
=================================================================
http://al-awda.org
Sign the online petition to US Secretary of State Colin Powell at:
http://al-awda.org/terminate_aid_petition.htm
=================================================================
Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition's listserve, is a forum for
individuals active in the Palestine right to return campaign regardless of
organizational affiliation if any. Al-Awda develops, coordinates, supports and guides,
as needed, global and local grassroots initiatives for action related to the Palestine
refugee right to return campaigns. Unless indicated otherwise, all statements posted
on Al-Awda represent the views of their authors and not necessarily those of Al-Awda
or its management who may be reached anytime at [EMAIL PROTECTED] To
subscribe, send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe,
send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
=================================================================
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
<A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A>
DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER
==========
CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic
screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are
sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis-
directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with
major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought.
That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and
always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no
credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply.
Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector.
========================================================================
Archives Available at:
http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html
<A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of
[EMAIL PROTECTED]</A>
http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/
<A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A>
========================================================================
To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Om
