America-bashing has gone far enough
Gulf News - 04 February, 2007
Author: Khalaf Al Habtoor
www.gulfinthemedia.com/index.php?m=opinions&id=282583&lang=en

[IMRA: Khalaf Al Habtoor is the chief executive of Dubai's Al Habtoor Group.
For a fascinating profile:
www.ameinfo.com/40569.html ]

You can't tune in to an Arabic channel nowadays without coming across
analysts, former politicians and ex-generals moaning and groaning about
America and the West. Their views almost always paint the Middle East as a
terminal victim of neo-imperialism, corporate greed and raw aggression.

In the world of the professional pundit we are always the innocent
bystanders. The conflicts besetting this region are not of our making, they
say. Everything is America's fault. Few ever come up with viable solutions.

To be fair the US government deserves much of the anger directed towards it
for its ill-thought out Mideast policy. A recent BBC poll that sought the
opinions of 26,000 people in 25 countries indicates 49 per cent feel the US
plays a mainly negative role in today's world. Surprisingly, attitudes in
Germany, France and Indonesia were least favourable.

But here's an interesting snippet. Some 57 per cent of Americans disapprove
of the way their government handled the Iraq war.

Okay. So we know that Washington has blundered over Iraq but this shouldn't
mean that everything America and its allies propose is automatically
perceived as negative.

This trend has become so bad there is now a situation of them and us, which
has led some Arab nations to cool relations with the West and cast around
for new friends.

A January 25 Reuter's report was headlined "Gulf states seen shifting away
from US assets". The fact is we must be careful what we wish for because it
just might happen.

Let's ask ourselves these questions. Do we really want to sever or water
down our alliances with the world's superpower? And if we were to do
something that foolish what might be the economic, political and strategic
consequences?

With regard to the GCC states it would be nice if we could emulate
stand-alone, neutral Switzerland. The problem is we can't. Our countries are
blessed - some might say cursed - with the world's most coveted resource:
oil. Everyone wants a stake in it and we need to protect it. In truth, we
cannot do this alone.

Fragile

So, like it or not, we need to cooperate with a friendly foreign power at
least until such time as we are set-up militarily and technologically to
stand on our own feet. Imperfect as it is, the US is the only superpower in
town.

There are pretenders, countries that aim to muscle out the West and which
are currently out to woo us. But their challenges are fragile and, in any
case, their world view, ideologies and agendas are not ours.

To be painfully frank, if America and the West were to dump us we would soon
be saying 'Come back, all is forgiven'.

If we no longer had the benefit of US satellites, for instance, our
communications would be cut. If the West stopped supplying spare parts, our
planes would be grounded; our hospital equipment left to rust.

Moreover if we work towards harming the US economy, in the end we will only
be harming ourselves since our own economies are inter-related and
inter-dependent and especially since our currencies are pegged with the
dollar. I believe the time has come to stop the anti-Western rhetoric, and
work with the West instead of against it.

With a sincere will, together we can strive towards a peaceful Iraq, which
does not discriminate on sectarian lines. Together we can help Lebanon heal
its war wounds and divisions. And together we can concentrate on bringing a
Palestinian state to fruition.

This requires a massive change of heart on our side. We are hurt, rightly
so, and it won't be easy but it's worth remembering this. In January 2009,
the White House is due to receive new tenants. Whether these will be
Republican or Democrat there will be a change in policy.

The US public proved their eagerness for a new direction in the November
2006 mid-term elections and presidential candidates are reflecting this new
mood in their pre-campaign speeches.

One after the other they speak of the need for diplomacy and a new hearts
and minds approach vis-a-vis this part of the world. In this case, we must
not burn our boats.

In the meantime it's worth reflecting on the good things the US has done in
the world and put the last few years in perspective as an out-of-character
aberration.

Realistically speaking we need each other, so let's be courageous enough to
offer Washington the hand of friendship. We need to transparently and
professionally convey our concerns and requirements while emphasising that
any new way of dealing with each another cannot be a one way street.

With our region imperiled and the future of our children at stake the road
ahead demands an adult and sensible approach, not one based on revenge and
grievance.

The nub of the issue is this. How do you envision the future of your
country? Do you want to live in a free economy that offers you the freedom
to choose your own lifestyle? If so, then the West is indispensable. And
that's the bottom line.

We're at a crossroads. There are hard choices to be made. The responsibility
lies with all of us to choose wisely and well.