WHERE IS THE “SHUKRAN” (thank you) FROM THE ARAB WORLD? By Dr. Steve Carol

THE RIGHT QUESTION:
WHERE IS THE “SHUKRAN” (thank you)
FROM THE ARAB WORLD?

by Dr. Steve Carol ©
Feb. 27, 2006
(Published in the East Valley Tribune, Mesa-Scottsdale, Arizona March 18, 2006)

The current discussion about the United States allowing Dubai Ports World, a United Arab Emirates (UAE) state-owned firm, to manage shipping in six major American port cities has different viewpoints. Some people, like Ken Mehlman, claim there is a need to demonstrate that moderate Arab nations can work with us to mutual benefit.[i] The UAE was Saddam Hussein’s second target after his conquest of Kuwait in 1990. It can't protect itself against extremist Islam, so the UAE depends on our military presence in its territory, which is mutually beneficial for both nations. This raises some important questions. Why must we outsource the managing of our port facilities to any foreign nation? If we wish to show our hope that moderate Arab nations can be allies, is there another way apart from giving them access to our port infrastructure?

The general public both here and in the Arab World needs to look at the historic record. Why hasn’t the Arab street noted how many times the United States has rescued Arab states and regimes? Why haven’t their history books even mentioned these events? Where are the signs of Arab friendship that underscores the mutual cooperation? Thus far we have hardly heard an Arab “shukran (thank you)” for these efforts.

Over the past five decades the American people have seen numerous images and stories in the media depicting many Arab demonstrations against the United States. US policies have been vilified, its flag has been burned, its citizen’s bodies desecrated and dragged behind vehicles. The U.S. has viewed the beheadings of Americans, and Arab adults dancing in the street, handing out candy to children in celebration of our tragedies. This was especially infuriating, for us, when the 9/11 attacks occurred.

Since the end of World War II, the United States has frequently, either alone or together with allies and friends, saved various Arab countries. One example of U.S. assistance occurred in 1956, when Egypt violated international treaties by seizing the Suez Canal. The U.S. pressured Great Britain and France to stop their response, an attack on Egypt. There was assistance again in 1957 after Egyptian President Gamal Abdul Nasser deliberately sank ships to block the canal. Much of the cost of restoring operational use of the canal was borne by the U.S.

Later in 1957, the U.S. positioned the Sixth Fleet as a sign of support to Jordan’s King Hussein as he dealt with Egyptian-sponsored subversion, riots, strikes and an attempted coup against him. The next year, 1958, U.S. military intervention saved the government of Lebanon from being overthrown by Egypt’s Nasser.

During 1963 the U.S. sent an aircraft carrier to the Red Sea, off the coast of Saudi Arabia, as a sign of military support for the Saudi Kingdom against Nasser’s military threats and bombing of Saudi towns. In 1967, during the Six Day War started by Egypt’s Nasser, it was U.S. pressure on Israel that led to the latter’s halt of its drive into Syria and prevented a total Arab collapse. Later, in 1970, the U.S. created a plan with Israel to intervene if necessary to safeguard Jordan from a joint Syrian – Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) military attempt to overthrow the Hashemite monarchy.

During the Yom Kippur War of 1973, the U.S. imposed a cease-fire and forced Israel to halt operations. This move saved the Egyptian Third Army and allowed Egypt to claim a “victory” in that conflict. Still later in 1979 the U.S. brokered an Egypt-Israel peace treaty and began U.S. aid to Egypt, making that nation the second-largest foreign aid recipient for many years to come. The decade of the 1980s witnessed additional U.S. rescues of Arab regimes. In the spring of 1982 the U.S. gave weapons, technology, and intelligence assistance to Iraq to stave off imminent defeat by Iran, in the Iraq-Iran War. Later in 1982, the U.S. brokered a deal which saved the PLO from destruction in Beirut, Lebanon and enabled its leadership to flee to safety in Tunisia.
Perhaps the most noticed U.S. assistance to an Arab nation occurred in 1991 when a U.S.-led coalition liberated Kuwait and saved it from permanent Iraqi occupation.[ii] Most recently, in 2003, another U.S.-led coalition liberated Iraq from the despotic and murderous Saddam Hussein regime, and promoted the establishment of a democracy in that nation.

Thus over the span of recent history the United States has demonstrated time and again, that it is a friend of the Arabs. Thus far we have not seen the masses of moderate Arabs acknowledge and publicize this fact. Isn’t it time that they do so? Perhaps it is time for a “shukran.”

[i] Ken Mehlman, Executive Director, Republican National Coalition, on Sean Hannity show Feb. 22, 2006.
[ii]The government of Kuwait did thank the U.S. but it was not widely publicized throughout the Arab world.

Dr. Steven Carol
Prof. of Modern Middle East History (retired)
Senior Fellow: Center for Advanced Middle East Studies .ws
Official historian on The Middle East Radio Forum www.middleeastradioforum.org
Scottsdale, Arizona