Washington's indecision and restraint make the Arab world think that America is no longer the reliable guarantor of security it once was.
In the United States, Russia's bold invasion of Ukraine has become a source malice. After all, every day there are stories of even more brutal cases of torture, rape and abuse than those told yesterday. The Americans are convinced that they are on the right side of history when it comes to Russian aggression. They firmly support the brave Ukrainians who are defending the Motherland.
But many Arabs look at things differently, according to the Wall Street Journal. They are looking at the United States in 2022 through the prism of their own experience of just over 30 years. From their point of view, something is missing now. In 1990, when the Arab aggressor invaded the territory of its smaller and weaker neighbor, when Saddam Hussein occupied Kuwait, US President George W. Bush declared that no one “will tolerate it.” He assembled the largest international coalition since World War II, which also included half a million US troops to drive out the invader and restore Kuwait's sovereignty. Washington has raised billions of dollars to rebuild the country.
Arabs like to remember the days when the United States was determined to be aggressive. Their leaders then responded to Washington's appeals by sending troops and deploying coalition forces. It was the peak of Arab confidence in America. But the experience of recent years has left its bitter mark. The list of complaints is very long. It begins with Barack Obama's 2009 speech in Cairo, which was seen as an offer of cooperation to the Muslim Brotherhood after the overthrow of longtime US ally in the Arab world Hosni Mubarak. Obama then handed over control of Syria to Russia, refusing to respond to violations of the “red lines” he drew on the use of chemical weapons. His peak was his advice to Saudi Arabia's longtime security partner to learn how to share the Middle East with Iran's radical leaders, with whom he has struck a dubious nuclear deal. The deal rewarded Tehran, which has never given up its nuclear ambitions.
Donald Trump later added to the Arab list of complaints. During his presidency, he spoke of resuming partnerships with old friends. But Trump was completely indifferent when Iran struck at Saudi Arabia's largest oil field. Now, during the Joe Biden administration, the Arabs point to numerous humiliating moments. For example, Iran is not afraid to strike at US assets in response to Israeli attacks. Because he knows that America will not react. Tehran unexpectedly received a number of concessions from the United States in the ongoing talks in Vienna. Washington has responded sparingly to numerous Iranian missile and drone strikes in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, refusing to force Iran to pay dearly for its aggression.
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As a result, in the eyes of many Arabs, all the formidable US military assets in the Middle East are just a screen behind a renunciation of determination and commitment.
Opposing Russia's aggression, many Arabs conclude that the United States can no longer be considered a reliable guarantor of security. And the nuclear weapons that Russia has while Iran does not have them and that Ukraine has given up are the only things that change something, ”the article reads.
In this context, many mention Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. He also renounced his nuclear ambitions through negotiations. And a few years later, his regime was overthrown and he was killed.
The publication writes that widespread views in the Middle East are somewhat manipulative. They highlight American failures and turn a blind eye to the mistakes of their own governments. The reality is much more complicated. And no mistakes in US policy justify Russia's criminal behavior in Ukraine. However, the Arab point of view still makes sense. If the president of the United States in 2022 does not want to repeat the words of his predecessor in 1990 that “no one will tolerate this,” then doubts about America's determination are justified. And looking for other sources of deterrence is not such a bad idea. Of course, Moscow and Beijing cannot be an alternative. Some may turn to Israel, which can definitely help. But a country with a population of less than 10 million is not a superpower. So, again, only the United States remains. However, events in Ukraine offer a very important lesson.
