The Hindu : `Cheney mission finds little support'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 18, 2002

International

International

`Cheney mission finds little support'

By Kesava Menon

MANAMA (BAHRAIN) MARCH. 17. The U.S. Vice-President, Mr. Dick Cheney, has found small joy in his travels through West Asia with his hosts in one country after the next telling him that they

will not support the project for which he is seeking their endorsement, namely that of regime change in Iraq.

However, Mr. Cheney's Arab hosts have also been giving him another message— that the U.S. needs to give priority to the settlement of the Israel-Palestinian dispute — and it is not unlikely that the two messages are meant to balance out. The U.S. media has been rife with reports that the main

purpose of Mr. Cheney's visit is to drum up support for efforts to bring down the regime of the Iraqi President, Mr. Saddam Hussein, and replace it with anything including a most marginally more liberal one.

Just after the U.S. success in the operations against Afghanistan's Taliban regime it had appeared as if the Arabs would not strenuously oppose a "topple Saddam'' operation. But the attitudes currently, or at least the stated sentiments, are entirely different. Heads of one Arab government after another have warned Mr. Cheney that the toppling of Mr. Saddam Hussein will destabilise the region and set off upheaval in the Arab street. The governments that have delivered this message include that of Saudi Arabia and of Jordan, both of which seemed reconciled to a "topple Saddam''

campaign just weeks ago. This is not necessarily the end of the story. Each of the Arab governments have told Mr. Cheney that the U.S. administration needs to concentrate on the ways and means of bringing an end to Israel's military operations against the Palestinians and to become more fully engaged in the search for a permanent settlement of their disputes with Israel.

But it is not all that certain that the Arab leaders want the U.S. to concentrate solely on the Israel-Palestine dispute and give up the "topple Saddam'' plans altogether.

It is highly probable that the Arab message is that the U.S. should tackle the Israel-Palestine dispute first before pushing forward with its plans vis a vis Iraq.

The Arab world is currently at a fairly unique moment in its recent history. For the first time since the 1991 Gulf War the Arabs have mooted an initiative of their own to a regional problem and they are also displaying a unity that they have not shown in years.

Saudi Arabia's initiative, or vision as they currently prefer to call it, for a solution of the Arab-Israel conflict has become somewhat more fuzzy than it was when first articulated.

But the Saudi proposal-essentially an up-date on the longer-standing land for peace proposal— is expected to get unanimous endorsement at the Arab League summit to be held in Beirut at the end of the month.

The Saudi initiative, even in the more comprehensive form in which it was first articulated, would not have got anywhere if the U.S. chose not to become its co-parent but the fact that they are able to coalesce on an initiative drawn up by one of their number is a cause of pride for the Arabs.

If, with the help of the U.S., the Arabs are able to advance towards a settlement with Israel, the Arab leaders will have reason to feel that they have solidified their standing with their people.

Once the Arab leaders feel more secure they will be in a position to accommodate U.S. plans in regard to Iraq.

Most Arabs do seem to realize that neither Iraq nor the region will have much of a secure future so long as Mr. Saddam Hussein remains in his seat if for no other reason than that the U.S. efforts to topple him, and therefore the U.S. military dominance of the region, will continue till he is there.

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