WMD, the US rallying cry vis-a-vis the Middle East
Given the latest statements made by U.S. officials on Syria, you have to understand that WMD is now on a rally race in the Middle East and its first stop is Syria. Although President George W. Bush and administration spokesmen have carefully skirted any explicit threat of military action against Syria, the White House spokesmen have referred to Syria as a rogue nation that harbors Iraqi leaders, develops chemical weapons and supports terrorists. Furthermore, Syria is supposed to be concealing Saddam’s forbidden weapons that would justify the U.S. war on Iraq. Syria for its part has gone on record denying it has aided members of the Iraqi leadership who are trying to escape and says it has no weapons of mass destruction.
Washington’s ultimatum to Syria, that evoked a reaction from Arabs who do not want to see another war in the Middle East, can be accepted as a sign of imminent U.S. military action against Syria, an unnamed member of Bush’s "Axis of Evil" because of its long record as a sponsor of terror organizations like the Lebanese Hizbollah, the Palestinian Jihad and Hamas. Syria has also in the past harbored lots of trouble for Turkey in the form of the Kurdistan Worker’s Party that caused the deaths of over 30,000 people in southeastern Turkey.
What forced the U.S. to step back from its long-term objective in the Middle East that is to rebuild the Arab world in line with the U.S.’ concept of democracy is both the reactions of Arabs and Muslims. These were angered by a U.S. they see as trying to draw up the agenda for the future of the Muslim world and they did not want to see a third war led by the U.S. in a Muslim country following Afghanistan and Iraq. In fact the U.S. faces growing international outcry over the specter of a new war in the Middle East and the attitude of the United Kingdom in not backing the U.S. over Syria at present, but also not neglecting to give signs that everything could change in the future by saying, "There are a number of questions that Syria should answer." Plus, Bush did not want to take further risks in the upcoming general election in 2004. He wants to wave the flag of Iraq victory in this election.
It is undeniable that the U.S. administration is under the influence of "neo-conservatives." The Project for the New American Century (PNAC), a Washington-based think-tank created in June 1997 by neo-conservatives including members who now make up some of the Bush cabinet and include Vice-President Dick Cheney, Elliot Abrams, Paula Dobrinsky, Donald Rumsfeld and Paul Wolfowitz.
The PNAC, in its statement of principles, declares that they aim to make the case and rally support for American global leadership. The group asks whether the U.S. has the resolve to shape a new century favorable to American principles and interests. "America has a vital role in maintaining peace and security in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. If we shirk our responsibilities, we invite challenges to our fundamental interests. The history of the 20th century should have taught us that it is important to shape circumstances before crises emerge, and to meet threats before they become dire," say the principles of PNAC that points to the need for power to challenge regimes hostile to American interests and values.
In the specter of the aims of the U.S. administration formed by PNAC members, a Middle East that currently holds regimes and harbors groups hostile to American interests and values should be rendered more suited to the American image. Thus many analysts who defend the U.S.’ actions say that this war serves to protect the security of Israel, to bring about democracy and human rights in the Middle East and to create a more moderate type of Islam in the region.
In this context, it is normal the U.S. wants to continue its practices in the Middle East by turning its attention to Syria, that has the only government formed by a Ba’ath Party since the overthrow of the Iraqi government. However it should not be forgotten that the Syrian government was opposed by the radical Islamist organization called the "Muslim Brotherhood," despite the fact that Syria, as a part of Ba’athist policy, supports radical Islamist organizations like the Lebanese Hizbollah, the Palestinian Jihad Islami and Hamas against Israel and the U.S.
In this respect, the U.S. has put down the first stone of the pavement that may lead to imminent military action against Syria, now a permanent member of the "Axis of Evil" by bringing these accusations against it.
