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Saddam Hussein is in stronger political position than any other time since 1990 while the latest American raid adds to his already swelling portfolio of gains. Arab diplomats based in London agree that the Iraqi dictator, already benefiting from the crumbling embargo, high oil prices and the fall-out from the violence generated by Palestinian intifada and Israeli heavy handed reaction to it, has made more gains by provoking the latest attack. Arab diplomats say they wished the Bush Administration were more subtle, but now it had made it clear that it regarded containing the Iraqi dictator its priority in the Middle East. Last month the Administration released funds to the Iraqi opposition for internal operations. The diplomats see yesterdays air raids as a dangerous new escalation that will only serve to befit Saddam.. The raids were also seen as having a negative effect by many dismayed Iraqis who, oppose Saddam but do not wish to belong the exiled opposition seen as manipulated by the Americans. They have constantly criticised America for failing to produce a coherent policy on Iraq. Meanwhile Arab leaders, off the record, expressed concern about the US action on popular sentiment in their countries, which is increasingly sympathetic to Iraq and hostile to the US. The expression double standard appeared in several Arab papers today as the asked: why America and Britain are acting in the name of the no-fly zones ( most Arab commentators say was illegal) while ignoring Israel's refusal to abide by UN resolutions calling for it to withdraw from occupied Arab lands. As domestic opinion in Arabic speaking nations of the Middle East has been inflamed by Israelis handling of the intifada, leaders of countries who sided with US in 1991 war against Iraq have been allowing Iraq to come in from the cold, with flights from their capitals frequently landing at Saddam International Airport carrying humanitarian aid and anti-sanctions campaigners. Only last week a group, lead by a popular Syrian singer and Egyptian actor accompanied sick Iraqi children on a highly publicised flight from Baghdad to Cairo for treatment. Britain, which has been in the pasta favourable destination for treating sick Arabs, is now seen as seen as America's poodle in Arab eyes. Arab diplomats have been advising Washington to ' focus on the explosive confrontation between Israel and the Palestinians,' according to a high ranking Arab diplomat in London. ' We regard it [ IsraeliPalestinian confrontation] as a far more serious threat to regional stability.' He said. Last night's raids will have caused dismay and anger in the region where Washington's tough stance on Iraq is contrasted to its lenience towards Israel. A defiant Saddam helped to boost the impression that he was on the warpath. He repeatedly called for a jihad against Israel, so Arabs on the streets saw the American raid as helping to defend Israel against a leader who came to their aid, although the better educated classes know he had no intention of doing so and his threats were generally for propaganda aims. As Saddam trying - successfully to make political capital out of the raids, portraying them as an unprovoked attack on an impoverished but resilient country that, however victimised, refuses to bow to Washington's diktat, diplomats said last night, he surely will increase popularity and raise his profile in the region. This morning students marching in several Arab capitals carried Saddam's pictures hailing him as the only leader who defends Arab honour against the new American crusaders. The raid *. Iraqi Official Statement *. The View from Britian * American policy on Iraq in disarray * *.Saddam, the popular dictator among Arabs. . Further information: ITN News Iraqi Mission in the UN. British Ministry of Defence The pentagon Copyright © Adel Darwish & Mideast News 2001. All rights reserved. No part of this site may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means or used for any business purpose without the written consent of the publisher. |