Islam and the Middle East as Targets for the U.S./Israel Alliance - Essay Example

Islam and the Middle East as Targets for the U.S./Israel Alliance Before looking at the geography of the Arab world or Middle East, I thought I comprehended the main factors and reasons leading to the instability, war, turmoil, and conflict in the Middle East. I now recognize that I failed to comprehend the real intricate nature of the association that exist between Israel and the U.S, and how this association plays an important role in the conflict in Iraq and the Palestinian situation. This paper will clarify my comprehension of the entire topic and how it has changed from ignorance to a more evidence based and detailed comprehension or understanding1. From the course, I learned the importance of global significance of the Middle East to the entire world. The Middle East has a significant value at political, cultural, economic, and religious levels domestically, regionally and internationally. The significance of religion in the region centers on the fact that it is perceived to be the original place of single or monotheistic Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. Concerning Judaism, the birth of Moses the prophet took place in Egypt. In addition, Israelis Promised Land is said to be current Palestine. Further, Jerusalem and Bethlehem are cities that are widely mentioned in the holy bible for being the birthplaces of Jesus and his prophetic journeys. The political importance of the region could be perceived via the fact that it harbors three main U.S military bases USCENTCO, USAFRICOM, and USEUCOM. Most Arab countries are found in the Middle East. These countries form the Arab league. They include Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Mauritania, Bahrain, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Djibouti, Oman, Sudan, United Arabs Emirates, Syria, Qatar, Somalia, Yemen, Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, and Lebanon. The economic importance of the Middle East could be presented via the fact that it is known for oil and natural gas, found in countries like Iraq, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Iran, and Qatar. As a Saudi Arabian, I realized that, the U.S imports crude oil from non-OPEC countries with 2, 320, 659 barrels from OPEC states while 1, 557, 591 barrels. The U.S gets much of its oil from Canada with 1,081, 385 barrels than from Saudi Arabia with only 497, 570 barrels. The cultural importance of the Middle East could be seen via facts such as being the land of many ancient civilizations. For example, the Egyptian civilization is the home of Suez Canal, the Pharos and the pyramids. In addition, the Suez Canal plays a vital role since it is a main trade route connecting the East to the West from the time of Egyptian civilizations2. Currently, over 20,000 ships cruise the Suez Canal annually. More so, the world known historical city of Babylon is located in Iraq. It is known as the Gate of God. I have how Islam as a religion plays a great role in this region. Islam has been valid for many times since it has been seen a religion that impart good morals to people. 3Mohammed is the prophet of Islam who is incontestably one of the leaders in history who had social, religious, economic, intellectual, and political qualities. The Sunna and Quran contain messages of peace, political tolerance, women’s rights, justice, cultural diversity, social life, democratic values, and diplomatic peace. Islam is a religion that respects and believes Jesus as a leader and a prophet. This is because he is widely mentioned in the Quran. I found it ironical that the U.S where majority of the population is Christian values Israel than the Arab World. Israel has a strong understanding of the U.S external and internal politics. During the Palestine war with the Israelites, the U.S provided financial support of over $ 8.5 million every day in military assistance. The U.S did not offer any support to Palestine during the 2013 fiscal year. It is sad to note that since the Palestinian occupation of 1969 began, no houses belonging to the Israelis have been destroyed. Contrary, more than 27, 000 Palestinian houses have been destroyed by Israel. Additionally, 1,519 Palestinian children have been killed compared to 129 Israeli children killed by Palestinians. Despite of all the local and international violation committed by Israel against unarmed Palestinians, the United States of America still endorsed Israel financially, political and militarily. President Obama described U.S relationship with Israel as significant because it provided strategic positioning of the U.S in the Middle East. The former U.S president Jimmy Carter while in an interview on BBC in 2008 asserted that Israel had more than 140 nuclear weapons at the time. Additionally, Israel was even trying to market weapons to nations such as South Africa. I think that the main purpose that the U.S involved itself in the Iraq war was to protect and support the interest of Israel in the Middle East. or a long time, Israel saw Saddam Hussein and his government as a potential threat to its security. Towards the conclusion of the term of Bill Clinton as the U.S president, and during the era of Bush, many claims have been raised. These claims focused on justifying military action against Iraq on the ground that Iraq had weapons of massive destruction, endorsed the terrorist group Al-Qaeda, and were a security to the U.S. It is fortunate that those claims were untrue and unfounded. The war against Iraq had nothing to with terrorism, instilling democratic values and interest in oil fields. In my views, I think the reason why the U.S entered the war was the presence of Israel in the conflict. The war was orchestrated and planned by the Bush regime and neoconservatives. In order to avoid further U.S engagement in unnecessary conflicts or wars, I think we require an international committee that is made of countries that are not friends of Israel to address the situation in the Middle East and come up with a lasting and peaceful solution to the problem. My thought towards how, who and why the conflicts in the Middle East as well as political discrimination of the U.S with Israel has transformed. I used to imagine that the U.S supported Israel because they wanted to endorse what they referred to as democratic nation like the U.S. Now, I m convinced that the reason for that unconditional support and endorsement is deeper than that. Due to this, I think the endorsement of the U.S is because the U.S has political, economic, and cultural interests in the region. I learned that one should examine deeper than what looks to be the apparent reasons for the U.S. association with Israel4. For instance, the U.S. is sustaining and endorsing the investment in renewable energy sources. I used to think that the reason was that the U.S. administration led by president Obama wanted to save the earth from pollution and global warming. However, when you realize that Israel is investing billions in research on solar and wind alternative energies, it makes one to think twice. Currently, both Israel and the U.S. clearly expressed their goal to control their competitors economically throughout the next 10 years. Furthermore, California is currently a laboratory for energy research and development led by Israel such as the company Bright source energy. It is vital to note that the U.S. support to Israel is destroying the country. The U.S. is been supporting Israel financially when its own internal economy is weak or struggling. This support is developing negative results. For instance, toady, the U.S. is perceived as unfavorably in Morocco (88 percent), Egypt (98 percent), Jordan (78 percent), and Saudi Arabia (94 percent),. Additionally, the several wars that the country got involved into has increased mistrust of America in Europe, decreased the international scene’s support for the war on terrorism, and declined the U.S. credibility worldwide. The rate of poverty in the U.S. is increasing. The poverty rate was expected to raise from 15.1 percent in 2010 to 15.7 percent. 9 million people in 2010 would have been perceived above the poverty line if food stamps and tax credits were considered. Evidently, on daily basis Americans are losing their employment because of budget cuts and deficits. This situation is constantly worsening because of the U.S. endorse to Israel and their willingness to even go-to-go to guard its interest and existence. I know that all the information that I have learned and knowledge I have acquired from the geography of the Middle East course permitted me to better comprehend the situation. It is evident that the Middle East or Arab world is a very significant region that includes many resources and has an invaluable value globally. However, it is clear that the U.S. has not benefited or interest for dominating any country in the region. Instead, the U.S. as a nation is acting only out of loyalty and obligation to guard Israel from enemy nations. On the other hand, Israel is the nation that implanted itself by taking over Palestinian territory, because its claim about it for being their promised land. The U.S. is a nation that hosted individuals from all over the globe; it housed millions of people of Jewish decent. It is important to note that not all Jewish people are Zionists or Neoconservatives, but most Jewish people would endorse their home nation over any other country in the region. It was charming to me to learn about the Sayanim as a global group of people who spy for Israel. It was almost terrifying to recognize that group of people can be anywhere in the globe with diverse nationalities, but still operate to serve the plans of Israel. Jeff Gates offered a very noble and ambitious program to run the Sayanim and any unethical practice by Israel. I concurred with his concepts and idea on “the Way Forward.” Ideas or concepts such as to have anybody suspected or having any relationship with the Israeli Mossad, either as a manager or just by spying should be spotted, interviewed, or treated, as a global hazard is very ambitious and noble. If the ideas or concepts proposed by Jeff Gates were put into practice, Israel’s unlawful operations would be controlled, limited, controlled, and removed56. However, I think ideas such as closing down Israel’s embassy offices, the expulsion of its diplomatic corps, and the detention of its staff not easy to implement. Fundamentally that all the data, information and facts point to the deep inference and support of the U.S. government with most of its agencies with Israel. In my views, as Muslims and Arabs, we require to have a strategic plan to resolve the disagreement situation in the Middle East. We already understand that the U.S. is focused to support Israel even if that negatively influences the U.S. We are aware that the factual reason for the war against Iraq was to guard Israel. With all this information, the Middle East requires to focus on developing its countries rather than engaging in unfounded and unjustifiable wars. They need to reach a point in which the world will respect them. Every Arab nation need to become politically active in the UN to raise the voice of justice and demonstrate to the world what Israel is doing to Palestine. In conclusion, I think Arabs and Muslims need to call for a close partnership with the U.S. in order to edge the destruction in the regions. The Arabs need to stay unified and incorporate the European Union in the negotiation process as this might bring a peaceful change. The people of Iraq need stability and dignity. It is the duty of the Middle East to ensure that Palestine is peaceful. References Mohamed Elyassini, “Global Geopolitics of the Middle East” (PowerPoint presentation slide 23), ENVI- 423-301, Terre Haute, IN, summer 1 2013. Muhammed: Legacy of a Prohet”, Accessed 12 November, 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZqpPG_kaWw. The Suez Canal: Modern Marvels documentary”, Accessed 12 November, 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWYK6utvnpE. Read More