IRAQ: The Arab media gang up on Rice

Try as it might, the U.S. has apparently failed again to convince its Arab allies in the Persian Gulf to promise to step in with their cash and credibility in support of the fledgling, Shiite-led Iraqi government.

In a visit to Bahrain on Monday, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice tried to convince oil-rich Persian Gulf nations to relieve Iraq of billions of dollars of debt, open embassies in the war-torn country and help counter Iran's growing influence.

She walked away empty-handed. Instead, Rice's latest visit to the region has prompted a fresh storm of criticism against U.S. policy in Iraq, which is the subject of a big conference in Kuwait today.

Welcoming her there was a fiery column in the Kuwait Times lambasting U.S. efforts to bolster the Sunni Arab states' involvement in Iraq after triggering chaos in that country:

How do you want the Arabs to be involved? ... Is Baghdad a safe enough place to open an embassy? Or for diplomats to roam around and mingle? ... You are too sophisticated, Dr. Rice, to think that the Iraqi problem is opening embassies or money and that scrapping the debts will solve it... Your mission is very tough. The rift between Sunnis and Shiites is vast and won't be easily healed. Leave alone the problems between the Kurds and Turkey and all the other abusers and exploiters who are pouring into Iraq in the name of democracy and all those who are benefiting from the misery of the Iraqi people.

In general, Arab opinion-makers offered few solutions to the ongoing Iraq crisis, but a lot of blame and criticism of the U.S., especially for past decisions.

A recent opinion piece (in Arabic) in the Lebanese newspaper As-Safir by Sateh Nourredine argued that the U.S. failed to promote Iraq as a liberal Shiite state and an alternative to Iran:

From the first moment of the occupation five years ago, it was clear that America wanted to preserve Iraq's unity, Arab identity, and democratic evolution, which are common titles for all the Arab leftist movements. But the lack of movement towards dividing the Iraqi state, which is ready to be implemented in the Kurdish north, and the holding of elections amidst deep Iraqi divisions, was not accompanied by equal focus on marketing Arab nationalism and portraying it as an Iraqi and regional safe haven as is being done today.

In today’s London-based pan-Arab daily al-Quds al-Arabi, columnist Abdelbari Atwari called Rice's demand to support the Maliki government as a bulwark against Iran "perhaps her most provocative and offensive" request:

That Iranian influence in Iraq is expanding and rising is only to be expected. This is because the architects of the U.S. war in Iraq paved the way for it by disbanding the Iraqi army, dismantling Iraqi state institutions, criminalizing the Baath Party, setting up Iran’s allies and militias as the new rulers, and providing them with money, weapons, and political and moral support. Now, these same architects are coming to demand that the Arabs fix what they themselves have ruined, and to support the sectarian hate-filled Maliki government that makes no secret of its loathing for the Arabs.

Among commentators, there is a strong sense that it's not worth it for the Arab world to do anything the Bush administration wants, since the president's term has only nine months left. Another Op-Ed article published recently by the Arab daily Al-Hayat, Patrick Seal called Rice's goal of improving security in Iraq an impossible task:

She (Rice) is hoping to persuade Iraq's neighbours to help the United States pacify the shattered and war-torn country — in other words to help repair some of the terrible damage the U.S. itself has done. It may be worth a try, but the prospects are highly unpromising… The time has surely come for the regional states to take their destiny into their own hands. They should convene a conference on Iraq — but politely ask Condoleezza Rice to stay away.

—Raed Rafei in Beirut

Photo: U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, left, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, center, and Kuwait Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammad Nasser Ahmad attend the Third Expanded Ministerial Conference of the Neighbouring Countries of Iraq in Kuwait City today. Credit: EPA/RAED QUTENA

P.S. The Los Angeles Times issues a free daily newsletter with the latest headlines from the Middle East, the war in Iraq and the confrontation between the West and Islam. You can subscribe by registering at the website here, logging in here and clicking on the World: Mideast newsletter box here.

Comments

[DF Robichaux]

GW Bush sure has been the ultimate Manchurian Candidate.
It is very illuminating that Dick Chaney headed W's selection team for the VP selection in his intial term, but couldn't find anyone better than himself. Well the Dicktator behind the curtain has really topped W's record of
running 2 or 3 companies into the ground, This time the entire country and Iraq have been run into the ground but daddy can't pick these pieces.

[Thor Norge]

I agree with other posters that sending that rat-faced, sycophant to seek concessions from Racist, Sexist Arabs was practically as stupid a everything else they've done.

Sexism and Racism are wrong. But in diplomacy you can only make so many points at once. And if you want to make point you don't hope for favors or support.

Of course it would be ridiculous for anyone to expect anything of Rice and her master. They don't have a clue.

[Another Coward]

Let them all kill each other and control the oil wells. Let the USA bring the troops home and then send nukes to all the bastardize countries out there that continue to rape the US economy, business, and technology. What I love is hearing about how bad the US is when the world forgets that Germany would be in control and there would be no Israel if the US did not interact in WWII.

Then you all have all the words to comment on what is right or wrong while you sit behind your computer as a coward. Go pick up a gun and join the military and fight for your country if you feel strong enough.

Bunch of f'ing cowards and we are all going to hell, but wait, we are living in it.

Your religion is better than theirs and mine is better than those. My color is better than yours and let's continue to point the finger. WE ARE ALL GUILTY in our TURMOIL and self destruction and we continue to blame anyone besides ourselves...

Go watch another episode of your favorite show or blame the infidels of the US. Again, it is the weak influenced by the greedy, Taiban, al-Queda, or whomever. Bunch of cowards, suicide bombers because of a God. What God wants you to kill yourself for infidels and what makes these people believe they are holy enough to decipher this...

BTW, why would the Arab world allow a woman to discuss with them suggestions or actions. They too are a bunch of cowards and still live in the damn middle ages...I am still trying to figure out how the US screwed it up, they have lost all credibility, their economy is in shambles but the rest of the world still wants to piss on them. It is kind of hard to give democracy to people who have their hands out and have someone telling them what to do. It is kind of like our welfare system here in US. Bunch of folks with their hands out, wanting something for nothing but blaming everyone else...

Oops, forgot to mention that the world loves to rape the education system of the US.

Let's pick on another country, let's say, China or the EU? We have the audacity to make comments on the US, well, if you are from the US, go move to Canada, China, or EU and stop complaining. Do something about it if you are that concerned. The war was the reason Bush won his re-election. But wait, let us blame something or someone for OUR decisions. This is what we have become, my brethren of the US, scapegoats who will not take accountability for their actions.

Same applies to corporate america and probably the rest of the world. It wasn't me, it was them, or that country, or the drugs, or my pathetic little mind on all of these meds.

If we took just a hint of accountability instead of blaming the problems on whomever, then maybe we can balance out.

The problem is not just with the US. Other countries are just as much to blame but there is no discussion about this.

I think most posters need to check their selves and look at the rest of the world before posting negative remarks. IF you're from the US, then get out and if you are from another country...You better check yourself cause, we, the US of A will kick your ASS.

Well, I am off to my own little self, in my own little, self-centered world.

Man all these people with their comments have really pissed me off today and I have the feeling of letting whomever reads this post get the gist of it...

f'off and f'er'self

Maybe one day we will all figure it out and get a group hug, save a tree, and remove another creature from the extinction list.

[Chris]

i think the govt is ignorant for sending a woman to solve diplomatic affairs with a bunch of sexist middle eastern leaders in the first place. Even if our govt was in the right about the iraqi war I seriously doubt the presidents and princes of the middle east are really going to take into consideration a woman's opinion. And that is just because of the cultures and traditions based in their society. Women over there run around in black gowns and turbans covered up all the time and not even hardly allowed to speak. I think end the end sending a woman over there to tell a bunch of people who already dont like us to spend their money to basically help us fix a war we screwed up turned out to only spark more mistrust and hate between the US and the middle east.

[Donald Burnison]

Rice failed as security adviser before 911, and has failed as Sec. or State. What has she done in the last 7 years? But then why would anyone listen to any Bush appointed official since so many of them have been failures in their capacity as members of our gov? Bush/Cheney have ruined our status in the world and our ability to lead with their lies and propaganda. They have screwed up the war and the economy so badly, so what is left for them to ruin?

[Joe Public]

Seems to me that the USA has screwed up again, trying to push its ideas and ways on another country. When will they learn that this is not going to happen? While the USA bombs other countries, their own homeland is in shambles, This is just like what State Farm Insurance did to the hurricane victims in New Orleans, fire victims in Georgia and anyone else that has ever had a policy with them. ( after the problem, DENY RESPONSIBILITY )

The arrogance of the USA and for that matter State Farm Insurance will catch up to them. You can't go around promising everything and then after the fact acuse people of not doing enough. The world will turn its back on the USA and the USA will turn its back on State Farm Insurance in the end.

[peter knowll]

America cannot have another vietnam they lost that one and there going to lose this one all because of corprate greed! CORPORATIONS HAVE THE U.S. GOVERMENT ON THERE KNEES! The u.s. policy now is make money nomatter the cost! oh ya lets outsource our sensitive secret technology and have it built for pennies on the dollar and get the sucker u.s. population to pay full price no matter if the u.s. goverment got it made for cheap but bills you for the full price where does the profit from this sceme go?

[Tim Anderson]

Just hopeless - but what prospect is there for Hilary or Barack to do the right thing and just get out?

[JOHN UNDERWOOD]

Uh-oh....is the LA Times deviating from the scripted "the surge is working" rhetoric and actually reporting what's really happening? How un-patriotic

[noti]

yeah, like she has done such a great job! but that is just my opinion.........

[PacificGatePost]

WHY IS THERE SUCH FEAR OF WITHDRAWAL?

It is time to give Iraqis their nation back before too few are left to remember that most Shiite, Sunni or Kurd Iraqis described themselves as Iraqis above all else and religious or sectarian group members second…..

http://pacificgatepost.blogspot.com/2008/04/why-fear-withdrawal-from-iraq.html