The Middle East Is On A Hot Tin
By Dr Salim Nazzal
28 August, 2013
Countercurrents.org
Recent news indicates that the U.S is planning to launch a strike against selective targets in Syria. Its raison d'être is the Syrian regime's responsibility about the deadly gas attack in the outskirts of Damascus. However it is not clear yet if the Us waits until it gets international support, or it will strike without it.
Yet the fact is that until this moment nothing is determined about the nature of the mass destruction arms which killed hundred of Syrian civilians.
The Syrian regime denies the allegation of its responsibility, and Russia says its satellite determined that the deadliest weapons came from areas controlled by the radical opposition.
The team which the UN has already sent to Damascus has only the mandate to determine the nature of the used mass destruction, but not who is behind it.
Arab observers fear the repetition of the Iraqi scenario in Syria? They call for the formation of an international committee which can identify the forces behind the attack.
In 2003 the U.S. invaded Iraq, killing about one million Iraqi for the allegation that Saddam regime owns mass destruction arms. Afterwards, it was proved to be no more than an excuse to justify the invasion.
Most Arabs view that the possible attack on Syria serves the Zionist state interested to weaken the major Arab states. And not for the sake of supporting the Syrian forces which call for democracy and justice.
They mention that this goal is almost achieved and the three major Arab countries, Egypt, Iraq and Syria which oppose Israel is already drowned in chaos.
It must be remembered that the Zionist state owns the most advanced arsenal of mass destruction in the region. About two years ago, Henry Kissinger drew a frightening scenario about the role of the Zionist state in this conflict by stating that *Israel will have to fight with all its might and weapons to kill as many Arabs as it can. Hopefully if all goes well, half the Middle East will be Israeli*
We had seen recently an active role in Saudi Arabia which moved from its traditional neutral position, to an active one, by supporting the Islamist opposition in Syria.
This position as many think, is rather directed against Iran, which the Syria regime is its strongest ally. Iran made it clear that it stands with Syria against any possible American attack.
Nevertheless, the possible American strike in Syria, will lead as most observers think, to a wider conflict, which will probably put the region into flames. It’s difficult to know its political consequences, and where it might lead, but it is not difficult to predict that it will be catastrophic for the whole region, and probably beyond.
Dr. Salim Nazzal, a Palestinian-Norwegian historian on the Middle East, He has written extensively on social and political issues in the region.
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