An Exit Strategy of Transformation

The stated goal of the Bush Administration has always been a Middle East transformed. In the sense transformation means a change in structure or appearance the idea has an almost utopian overtone, and there have been many willing to label George W as a bumbling Don Quixote, foolishly charging at windmills of imaginary malice.

In the sense transformation means renewal, there is a glimmer of hope that a change in attitude is underway in the region. Much is being written about the restraint in Arab response to Israeli actions to remove and destroy murderous Hizbollah from the neighborhood. The Strategy Page makes a case that Arab distrust of Iran is the common ground the region finds they share.

The War With Iran: Could this mean that the principal Arab leaders are not all that unhappy to see Hizbollah get it in the neck? After all, most of the Arabs are Sunni, while Hizbollah and Iran are Shia. … But most Arabs fear Iran, not because most Iranians are Shia, but because Iranians are not Arabs.

Also scary is the fact that Iran is currently run by a religious dictatorship. Most Arabs have noted how that worked in Iran, Sudan and Afghanistan and want no part of it. Worse, the Iranian religious leadership believes that they would do a better job running the Hejaz (the region of Saudi Arabia containing Mecca and Medina and the most holy places in Islam). For centuries, the Turks kept the Iranians out of the Hejaz. But who would keep nuclear armed Iranians out?

A majority of Muslim Arabs are beginning to appreciate that they prefer making money to making jihad. There is also a growing understanding that living under authoritarian government with religion is demonstrably better than living under authoritarian religion with government military and police powers. Finally and most recently, the dawning insight that Persian rule of Arab lands is as undesirable as any foreign occupation, especially since this latest batch of Persians are apocalyptic nut-cases.

Remember the “Arab Street” which was going to explode upon the downfall of the mass murder Saddam Hussein? By and large they paid attention to the news and kept living their daily lives. If the street finally talks it may be they are not enamored with the reality of thugs for Allah.

Arab Majority May Not Stay Forever Silent: Tariq Alhomayed, editor in chief of the Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat, stuck the dagger in deeper: "Mr. Nasrallah bombastically announced he consulted no one when he decided to attack Israel, nor did he measure Lebanon's need for security, prosperity, and the safety of its people. He said he needs no one's help but God's to fight the fight." Mr. Alhomayed's punch line was, in so many words: Go with God, Sheik Nasrallah, but count the rest of us out.

Or in other words: God help you, you terrorist trash.