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U.S.-Arab Relations: An Update
By Geoffrey
Kemp
From the June 23, 2002 edition of Al-Ittihad
American behavior towards four key Arab countries has undergone a number of significant changes in the past months. While Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Syria have, in different ways, come in for harsh criticism in the U.S. press and the U.S. Congress, the administration has sought and maintained workmanlike relations with their respective leaders. Jordan, on the other hand, enjoys excellent relations with everybody in Washington.
Criticism of Egypt has focused on the endless badmouthing of Israel and America in the Egyptian press and the perception, especially in the U.S. Congress, that Egypt has not done enough to put pressure on the Palestinian Authority to change its behavior and to clamp down on suicide bombers. Some members of Congress have talked about cutting Egypt’s annual grant of military and economic assistance. However, so far no major cuts have been approved. Most Congressmen understand how important the U.S.-Egyptian relationship is and why it is in the interests of both countries to continue to work closely together to avoid a major Middle East crisis.
Below the surface, though, there is much discontent among the elites in both countries. Egypt’s intelligentsia bemoan America’s unwillingness to put pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Sharon to resolve the Palestinian crisis. American opinion makers are openly hostile to Egypt’s relentlessly anti-Israel behavior, especially the blatant anti-Semitism in the Egyptian press, including government-controlled press.
Yet no crisis is on the horizon. President Mubarak enjoys excellent access to the White House and is being encouraged by the Bush Administration to become more active in Arab-Israeli diplomacy.
Likewise at the government to government level relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia have survived the initial shocks caused by September 11th and the discovery that most of the suicide pilots were of Saudi origin. The Bush Administration has welcomed Crown Prince Abdullah’s peace initiative and regards Saudi Arabia as a responsible ally on all questions to do with Gulf and oil security. In the public arena U.S. criticism of Saudi Arabia has been especially harsh and neo-conservative supporters of the Bush Administration have openly stated that the Saudi regime is part of the problem in the Middle East, not part of the solution. They argue that one of the best reasons for adopting a regime change strategy towards Iraq is that it would then be easier to force regime changes throughout the Arab world and Iran. The administration does not share this view, though it has its doubts; Saudi Arabia is seen as a strategic partner rather than a country with which one can have a close and friendly relationship.
Syria poses a different challenge. Syrian cooperation with the United States in the fight against Al Qaeda has become an important element in the anti-terrorism campaign. Yet Syria, some believe, should have been listed in the "axis of evil," given its support of Hezbollah and other terrorist groups residing in Damascus. While President Bush has good relations with President Mubarak and Crown Prince Abdullah, the same cannot be said about his relations with Bashar Assad. There is a belief that Bashar Assad is not as capable or responsible as his father. He is seen as a risk taker, especially in the context of Syria’s confrontation with Israel and its support for Hezbollah actions against Israel. The concern is that Bashar will not clamp down hard enough on Hezbollah to prevent serious escalation of violence along Israel’s northern border and may be willing to risk a military confrontation with Israel in the mistaken belief that while Israel might hit Syria hard, any military operations will be of limited duration. According to this logic after a punitive but indecisive Israeli military strike, Bashar will emerge with his hard-line credentials enhanced. The U.S. believes this is a very dangerous attitude, one his father would not have adopted.
King Abdullah of Jordan gets universal praise in Washington. He has said all the right things and has won praise from the Congress and the supporters of Israel because of his outspokenness against suicide bombings and his determination to further a peaceful solution to the Palestinian problem. Jordan’s security services have been very cooperative in preventing infiltration into Israel and in rounding up Al Qaeda elements. Yet pleasant as the King is, there is not much he can do to resolve the fundamental crisis between Israel and the Palestinians. His kingdom could be in jeopardy if the crisis escalates into a regional confrontation.
The U.S. government remains committed to good relations with these Arab leaders and those of the smaller Gulf states in the belief that their support is essential for a solution to the Arab-Israeli crisis and any eventual showdown with Saddam Hussein. The harsh words written and spoken in the media in both the United States and the Arab world are muted by active diplomacy and close cooperation by the governments at the highest levels. Nevertheless, the anger and resentment among much of the elite in America and the Arab world towards each other remains a disturbing reality that will soon have to be addressed.
