Arabs Side with Iraq and Israel is to Blame

   Now that the predictable has happened and the Arab states including Saudi Arabia are betraying the United States and aligning themselves with Saddam, the New York Time predictably blames Israel. If only Israel would make peace with the Arabs, the New York Times reasoning goes, the Arabs would support the United States in insisting that Iraq allow weapons inspections. One would think that Saudi Arabia at least would support these inspections since Iraqi power is a direct threat to the existence of Saudi Arabia but no, when it comes to irrational Arab hatred of the West it doesn't matter if Iraq builds weapons of mass destruction. Incredibly in a news article about the subject, (Gulf Alliance: A Falling Out with U.S. by Douglas Jehl in the Thursday November 13, 1997, New York Times) Mr. Jehl blames Israel. Mr. Jehl says that Syria has sided with Bagdad in the current crisis because "its participation in the Gulf War coalition led only to stalemate in its effort to reclaim territory conquered by Israel and secure a lasting peace."

    What? Syria has been seeking a lasting peace? Syria peace loving? I seem to recall that when Syria had the Golan Heights it used them to shell the Israeli settlements in the valley below. Isn't Syria on the list of nations that sponsor terror? Doesn't Hezbollah operate from Lebanon which peace loving Syria has invaded and from which Syria refuses to leave. And how did Syria's participation in the coalition prevent peace between Syria and Israel? The purpose of the coalition was to free Kuwait from Iraq and to protect the Arab oil fields. Peace loving Syria also saw this as a chance to weaken her Iraqi enemy.

    Why not blame the Arabs for a change? Can they do no wrong? Why doesn't the New York Times point out that if the Arabs of Saudia Arabia can betray the United States who protected them from invasion from Iraq, it is perfectly reasonable for Israel to be concerned that the Arabs will betray her after she makes territorial concessions to them? Already the PLO has violated all the agreements it signed. Why doesn't the New York Times point out that maybe it's time the United States stop arming Arab countries and concentrate instead on strengthening the one reliable ally the United States has in the region, Israel.

Submitted by Gamaliel Isaac