Tuesday, April 3, 2007

MUST READ: WILL ARAB MUSLIM "ALLIES" SUPPORT THE WEST IN A TIME OF CRISIS?

Will Arab Muslim “Allies” Support the West in a Time of Crisis?
David J. Jonsson

Iran captured 15 British military personnel last week, accusing them of illegally entering Iranian waters, and British Prime Minister Tony Blair has warned that the dispute would enter a “different phase” unless they are freed. Iran has denounced the U.N. resolution as illegal and has vowed not to suspend its nuclear work, denying Western accusations it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons. Putin, according to the Kremlin, said the recent U.N. Security Council vote on a new resolution expanding sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program had sent Iran a "serious political signal of the need for cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency and the international community." Putin also said the resolution "unambiguously rules out the use of force." British embassy spokesman said Wednesday that a freeze of relations with Iran will include bilateral formal meetings and all the state-sponsored commercial activities.

Two US, one French aircraft carrier in Gulf region- The United States and France have three aircraft carrier battle groups in the Gulf region, U.S. and French naval sources said on Monday. The USS Stennis carrier strike group arrived in late February with an additional 6,500 sailors to join the USS Dwight D Eisenhower carrier strike group. The West needs access to their ports and airbases in the Gulf to execute operations. This raises the questions:

  • Can the West count on Gulf countries to support the West in a time of crisis?
  • Should the West provide weapons to these states?
  • Should the state owned companies be trusted to own critical industries in the West?
  • Can the West count on their military being able to use the ports, shipping and airports owned by these countries.

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Just to answer the authors question: NO ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Read on...

Pertinent Links:

1) Will Arab Muslim “Allies” Support the West in a Time of Crisis?

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