Global Security and Sustainability - Essay Example

Global Security and Sustainability August 31 2009 Table of Contents August 31 2009 1 Table of Contents 2 Abstract 3 Introduction 4 Background 5 Stabilized or destabilized? 6 US policy of Iraq destabilized the Gulf region 6 US policy of Iraq did not destabilize the Gulf region 7 Conclusions 9 Bibliography 11 Abstract Iraq issue is one of the most well known political affairs throughout the last three decades. This paper is a critical analysis to find the reasons behind the different policy of US toward this region and how those policies worked. In addition, this paper is also to focus on the situation about whether the gulf region has been stabilized or destabilized by those policies. And from those answer it can be understood why and how that destabilized or whether not. Topic Global Security and Sustainability Introduction After fifty year of containing Soviet Union, the United States is again in the light of containment regarding gulf region. US have followed a dual containment toward the Iran and Iraq since May 1993. Dual containment means to isolate any region politically, economically and militarily. In May of 1993, almost six years ago, I outlined the Clinton administration's dual containment policy toward Iraq and Iran (Ali, 2000, p.292). Upon taking office in 1993, the Clinton Administration moved to further isolate Iran as part of a strategy of "dual containment" of Iran and Iraq (Dukata, 2007, p.32). It is well known that United States has been involved in this region for the last 5o years and it is assumed that dual containment is a shift in the policy. It also can be said that dual containment is the result of three events. The first reason is the end of cold war which allowed United States to follow a more discriminate policy. The second reason is the political outcome of the desert storm. And the third one is the Arab-Israeli peace process. Historically the US policy has played a very strong role in the development of international laws throughout the late eighteen, nineteen and twentieth centuries. US policy is always the crucial factor in regards to the balance among the countries in any region. No wonder, its defense system is to be considered as very important factor for the other countries. Arm control and missile defense are one of the major agendas for American national security. Especially for several decades, it has been more important to the gulf region than any of other countries. Proponents of national security are urging the US policy to protect the possible attacks from Iraq, Iran, china and North Korea. Such type of strategy toward these countries after invading Iraq has made the gulf region destabilized as well as vice versa. Background No doubt, the debate about the US policy toward this region has been a controversial issue for a long time. In 2002, when America invaded Iraq, it was assumed that the situation is going to be worse than before. However, though the decline of Saddam Hussein occurred in a very short time, but the situation became more complex. Still the US army has not been success to prove about their claim regarding the chemical bomb or nuclear bomb which was assumed that Iraq has. But however they have managed to become a barrier between the will of developing nuclear program and the opposite. US army has provided a way to the Iraqis people to elect their own president. As it is said earlier that US So, invade in Iraq, suddenly become a central issue among the gulf region countries. Especially Iran is trying to develop its nuclear program for which they are also in threat from US and its alliance. US neutrality toward the Iran-Iraq war has been advertised throughout the war, though the indirectly got the support from United States. In the light of historical background, it is needed to analysis the US policy toward the Iraq-Iran war from the international perspective (Amirahmadi, 1993, p.187). During the Iraq-Iran war, US policy was strongly in favor for Iraq and it is know that the hostage crisis was one of the great issues for the beginning of that war. This policy toward Iran simply worsened the real situation and the image of US histories. “Restoring peace to the Persian Gulf demands vigorous American leadership acting in strict accordance with the rules of international law and in full cooperation with the relevant international institutions” (International Law Association, 1985, p.23). While the debate about the strategy in the Middle East continues to be evaluated, the role of Israel in the region remains largely in the background (Hammond and Alexander, 1972, p. 147). Not only Israel, but also all the countries in this region, play a role in others security. That is why the observations of these roles may become increasingly significant issues. Stabilized or destabilized? There are two types of view regarding whether the US policy of Iraq destabilized the Gulf region or not. First one is the fallen of Saddam Hussein’s autocracy and the second one is the post-war approach of United States. US policy of Iraq destabilized the Gulf region If it is considered that the Saddam Hussein was threat for the United States as well as for the large portion of Iraqi people then from that perspective, the US policy of Iraq invasion has destabilized the Gulf region. People are not now in threatening about Saddam Hussein and his unparallel ruling. The other countries for example Libya already has announced that they are going to give up making weapons of mass destruction or (WMD). In addition, most of the Gulf region countries are not concerned about nuclear weapons now as they have already experienced about Iraq. Though unfortunately, still the United States has not proven their claim of Saddam Hussein’s nuclear and chemical weapons. The investigation is still running. Senator Jay Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Vice Chairman, of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence said, "We will take a closer look at the shortfalls in our intelligence collection. We will compare pre-war estimates to the situation in postwar Iraq, and we will pursue a better understanding of what role the Policy Counterterrorism Evaluation Group and the Office of Special Plans played in pre-war intelligence. There are definitely a few outstanding issues, but we've made a lot of progress, and it's clear that we're moving in the right direction" (United States, 2008, p. 6). So, from this point of view it is necessary to view these things as that the investigating process is to make sure about their invasion in Iraq. The important factor is that after the decline of Saddam rule, a lot of Iraqis were in favor for United States. But, the majority did not take it oppositely as they thought they were sufficient to solve their problem. They consider this war as a foreign threat and may be for that reason fought with the U.S. army. Many scholars think that though the invasion of Iraq was a inappropriate decision, it gives the Iraqi people some hope about building a better future. Since then, there are no external conflicts within the Gulf countries except Israel. Most importantly, Iraq is now experiencing a better education system according to their report. US policy of Iraq did not destabilize the Gulf region After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Osama Bin Laden became America’s leading enemy. But as the Bush administration prepared its case for war against Iraq, they stay away from mentioning the name Osama Bin Laden in public. But at the same time, they tried to link Saddam Hussein with the threat of terrorism in an effort to build public support for war. By the first anniversary of the 9/11 attack, it appeared that their effort produced greater outcomes beyond all expectation. Several polls released results showed that most of the Americans believe that Saddam Hussein was responsible for the 9/11 attack (Holbein, 2005, p.700) Unlike the United States, the Arab countries do not view Iraq as an immediate threat. They do not agree with the view of US administration’s position about call for regime change. Because they consider no problem for an Iraqi arsenal and by extension, other weapons can be acceptable as long as Israel has nuclear weapons. Another thing here needs to mention that though the gulf governments opposed the invasion of US, but they had no problem about the fallen of Saddam. They believe that the regime change should be done under international law but not through unilateral US action. It is from fear that this can undermine their regimes and other pro-Arab states. However, there is a reasonable sense among the Gulf States that the intension United States for approaching in the Middle East is to dominate. The problem with current US policy The U.S. is too much dependent on oil and they have not emphasized on developing alternative energy. The Dual containment policy, which is considered as the key strategy in the Gulf region, is expensive, and ultimately pointless to guard oil. Human rights violations or political repression of the allies’ are not considered as important things to the U.S. policy. But in the recent time, the trust between the Gulf regions has been diminishing with the United States policy. Most of the Arabs consider United States as their enemy or unfavorable country who are trying to dominate their culture, religion, believes and economics as well. This view has made a long term negative attitude toward the United States as well as the Americans. After, 9/11, the suicide attack has been decreased, especially in the Europe and some other territories. So, undoubtedly, the invasion of Iraq has made a real problem in the international political affairs. The terrorist groups are rising in numbers and their power is strong now than ever before. That is why there is no wondering that according to a survey provided by BBC, “Iranians show a strong commitment to Iran having such program: nine in 10 say that it is important for Iran to have a full-fuel-cycle nuclear program (84% very important)” (Hamilton, 1995, p. 250). On the other hand, if the Americans are asked about their opinion about the Muslim countries as a whole, then mostly their views are neutral. But, when they are asked about some specific countries, for example: Iran or Saudi Arabia, then majority have the negative views. Regarding the issue about, Iran’s nuclear program, 75% percent of Americans say that U.S. should handle this problem primarily by making a better relationship, while only 22% say that US should pressure Iran by implied threats Conclusions However, the situation of any post-war is considered differently and that is perspective. The United Nations did not support the invasion of United States either. That is why most of the countries of the world were against the U.S. invalid attack on Iraq. It has made a long term complexity within the Gulf region and the view towards the U.S from these countries have been changed since they are not feeling comfortable with the dominating approaching of united states. Houben, Emerson and Becher (n.d) observe that “[t]here is reason to believe, for example, that the two major Kurdish factions in Iraq – the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and the Kurdish Democratic Party – would opt to remain in a united Iraq if they were able to share national political and economic power effectively in a central government in Baghdad. This key requirement would apply also to the other groups in Iraq, especially the Shiites. But in anticipation of political change and given the stakes involved, we should actively promote among the Iraqi civilian and military opposition the United States' strong commitment to the territorial integrity of Iraq and underscore and encourage the need for broadened political participation there after Saddam Hussein” (p. 279). Bibliography Ali, Abbas. (2000). Globalization of business: practice and theory. Illustrated ed., Routledge, 2000 Amirahmadi, Hooshang. (1993). The United States and the Middle East: a search for new perspectives: G - Reference,Information and Interdisciplinary Subjects Series. SUNY Press. Dukata, J. David. (2007). Flames of war. Illustrated ed., Nova Publishers, 2007. Hamilton, H. Lee.(1995). Report of the Congressional Committees Investigating the Iran/Contra Affair. DIANE Publishing. Hammond, Y. Paul. and Alexander, Stuart. Sidney. (1972). Political dynamics in the Middle East. In Middle East Series:Middle East economic and political problems and prospects. American Elsevier Pub. Co. Holbein, R. James. (2005). The 9/11 Commission: Proceedings and Analysis. Oceana Publications, 2005. Houben, Marc., Emerson, Michael. and Becher, Klaus. (n.d). Readings in European security, Vol. 1. CEPS. International Law Association, (1985). Revue de droit international, de sciences diplomatiques et politiques: The international law review, Vol. 63-64 United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Armed Services, United States. Dept. of Defense. Office of Deputy Inspector General for Intelligence, (2008). Briefing on the Department of Defense Inspector General's report on the activities of the Office of Special Plans prior to the war in Iraq: hearing before the Committee on Armed Services, United States Senate, One Hundred Tenth Congress, first session, February 9, 2007. Illustrated ed., U.S. G.P.O., Vol. 110-232 of S. hrg, United States Congress; 2008. Read More