Middle East Challenges to the Obama Administration: The Forthcoming Crises
Submitted by Dr. Walid Phares on Sat, 02/28/2009 - 10:00
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Since September 11, 2001, the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East has been shaped by a new an dominant reality (the War on Terror), which has been a Jihadi global campaign against democracies in many areas around the world. Since the U.S. and NATO intervention in Afghanistan in 2001, the challenges have been to maintain stability and freedom in that country and in Iraq, as well as countering the expanding influence of al Qaeda in Pakistan, the African Horn and beyond.
In addition, since the invasion of Iraq and the acceleration of the nuclear program by the Iranian regime, the challenge coming from Tehran is escalating. We've witnessed Iranian involvement in Lebanon with Hezbollah and in Gaza with Hamas. So, in short, whatever problems the Bush Administration has already confronted, the current administration will have to address - but perhaps with more urgency.
Iraq
The issue is not the principle of withdrawal but what would replace the Coalition and the ability of the Iraqi Government to resist al Qaeda and Iran's influence. There really is no new data to process for the Obama policy architects. If Iraq is ready, the redeployment will take place as scheduled. But if the Iraqi institutions aren't ready, there will be an al Qaeda return to the Sunni triangle and an Iranian penetration of central and southern Iraq. Perhaps the bet of the new administration is to strike a deal with the Iranians so that the exit from Iraq is smooth. If this is the case, then the U.S. redeployment will be subject to Iran's conditions. And if so, one has to wonder what these conditions are and what Tehran wants to impose on Washington in the region? Already one can see the challenge, particularly in light of the Iranian race to achieve nuclear armament.
Afghanistan
A new strategy in Afghanistan must be integrated into a regional approach covering Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, all three under democratic governments aimed at weakening terrorism. This is an opportunity to isolate the radicals across the regional borders. But that needs a structure that understands the ideological power of the
terror forces.
Syria/Lebanon
The Syrian regime is a strategic ally of Iran, not an extension of it, as Hezbollah is to the Khomeinists. But Bashar's regime is implicated in a terror campaign against the emerging Cedars Revolution in Lebanon. Damascus has an ideological claim over Lebanon and that cannot be undone without a massive reform of the Baathist regime. Also, Hezbollah, which receives hundreds of millions of dollars from Tehran, has seized more power in Beirut and further intimidated Lebanon's fragile democracy. The question is how will the U.S. administration deal with Syria and Hezbollah in the near future? If it wishes to cut a deal with the Syrian regime, the price is clear, there are no secrets: It is Lebanon. If it wants to engage Hezbollah, it will have to talk with the masters in Tehran, which would bring Washington to square one in positioning towards Iran's regime. The options regarding Lebanon and Syria are very limited and just biding time is not a policy.
Israel/Palestinians
The Bush administration said it would support the two state solution, but Iran's allies in the region have obstructed the process. Can the Obama administration do better? It has two choices: either cut a deal with Iran to tame Hamas or support Mahmoud Abbas in establishing the state institutions. There are no magic solutions, but there will be strategic choices to follow.
Conclusion
In the end, the Obama response to all these challenges is going to be about whom the advisors and experts are and what are their plans. And if you examine the situation closer - you'd realize that the expert group which will be tasked to help President Obama will come from or be influenced by the Middle East Studies community. Which brings us back to the state of this field, eight years after 9/11: Is this community ready and able to provide the new president and his administration with the appropriate advice?
FamilySecurityMatters.org Contributing Editor Dr. Walid Phares is the Director of the Future Terrorism Project at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and the author of The Confrontation: Winning the War against Future Jihad.
Quiz for Hindu friends Hindu
Quiz for Hindu friends
Hindu friends are yet to score any point from my quiz on Hinduism. Their performance about their own religion seems very poor!
Q: Which God of Hinduism used to possess more than 16,000 wives and young cowherd girls in his harem?
Q: Which God’s wife of Hinduism was kidnapped by devil Ravana? How many years did it take to rescue his wife from the grip of devil Ravana? What was the name of his wife? Was she beautiful?
Q: If Ravana’s one moment is equal to Rama’s 12 years, then who is more intelligent and powerful?
Q: Which God of Hinduism liked to watch the nude women bathing in the village ponds and hid their clothes and would not return to them until he satisfied himself lustfully watching them?
Q: Which God of Hinduism was the gambling of cheats?
Q: Which religion preaches the doctrine that the terrorists and mass murderers like Hitler, Stalin, and Bin Laden may be reincarnated as cow or fly in their next life for their punishment?
Q: Which God of Hinduism beheaded his son and an innocent elephant out of ignorance?
Q: Which God of Hinduism is no longer worshipped by Hindus as Shiva saw him intending to rape his own daughter?
Q: Which religious book of Hinduism says that Brahma created Brahmin from his mouth, Rajanya from his arms, Vaisya from his thighs, and Sudra from his feet?
Q: Which God of Hinduism says that the most sinful criminals will be pardoned if s/he worships Krishna?
Q: Which God of Hinduism uttered the following killing and terrorizing statement, "I am death, the mighty destroyer of the world. I have come here to destroy all these people. I have already destroyed all of them. Kill all these great warriors who are already killed by Me."
Q: Which God of Hinduism condones holy war and terrorism against the unbelievers stating the followings, "Only the fortunate warriors, O Arjuna, get such an opportunity for an unsought war that is like an open door to heaven."
"You will go to heaven if killed on the line of duty, or you will enjoy the kingdom on the earth if victorious. Therefore, get up with a determination to fight, O Arjuna."
Q: Which God of Hinduism directly condones killing without any punishment for killers stating the following, "The one who is free from the notion of doership, and whose intellect is not polluted by the desire to reap the fruit; even after slaying these people, he or she neither slays nor is bound by the act of killing."
Q: Which God of Hinduism killed lots of his own kith and kin?
Q: Which God of Hinduism says that the unbelievers are evil, demonic, ignorant, lowest, irrational, deluded, bewildered, hateful, cruel, malicious, sinful, etc.?
Q: Which God of Hinduism promised heaven for those who get killed in holy war and also promised worldly booty if victorious?
Q: Which God of Hinduism demands complete submission/surrender to his will?
Q: Which God’s Lingam (male sex organ) of Hinduism is worshipped by Hindus like a God?
Q: Which Goddess’s Yoni (female sex organ) of Hinduism is worshipped by Hindus like a Goddess?
That’s it for today. Let’s see how much score they can make from this quiz.
Stupid AMIM if you want
Stupid AMIM if you want believe lies of sex maniac who even eyed his dauther in law and falsely claimed allah orderede him to do so,believe.If you not your children or grand children may leave mad faith islam which is hallucination of schizo mohammad.Know about schizophrenia and "beautiful mind "hallowood cinema.What is here you doing is irrelevent and stupid .WE will be happy to have fanatic like you to show shivered and shouting like mad dog barking and biting every one and every thing in its way.If you ahve courage and concept accept the challenge of Alisina and MA khan and prove it.I am an athiest nut regarding your comments about hindu myths are lies like your Mad Mohammad.worshipping Lingam is the shape of soul which one can see during deep mediatations.You can go to any Brahma kumaries and ask logic behind its worshp.Lord krishna never had sex with any of those girls ,they are just his companiaon.I don't want make you believe and debate because you just lack logical point or guinine reference.youare just repaeting what your imams brain wash on every friday to falsily glorofy contradictory islam.Ok don't like this out side on road ,Shiv sena activists will catch you and give their traidtional treatement which may even be worse than gujarat.Hindus never hate any one but muslims like to wage dark wars and back stabbing wars like mohammad who didn't have enough courage and capacity to fgiht with rivals.don't wait in grave for imaginery judgemeent day and fearing for imaginery hell.All the above are your hallucinations and confused stories of mythology .Beware of shiv sena they will catch your beard .
now time quiz for amin(i know
now time quiz for amin(i know quiz for those who have brains and who can think,but sadly now its for a muslim)
1.who the wives of other men&claimed as the apostle of allah?
2.what is the name of the satan that muslims pray(five !!!!!! times)?
aham brahmasmi, instead of
aham brahmasmi, instead of asking questions, you should answer AMIM's questions and defend ur religion.... thats if u can....
The only reason u guyz bash Islam is because u dont want disgusting truths about ur religion to be found out.