U.S., Turkey, even Israel, have role in Arab Spring
The Media Line Staff
Tel Aviv, Israel David Rosenberg / The Med – Countries outside the Arab Spring and looking in have a lot to contribute to the region’s progress to democracy, but they should be aware of the limits of their ability to predict how it will all end, much less to steer events.
That was the message of four speakers addressing the issue “The New Middle East: A Dream or a Nightmare?” at the Globes Business conference in Tel Aviv on Sunday.
The turmoil that has swept through the region is driven principally by domestic forces and issues, but outside powers ranging from the West, to Israel and Turkey and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have a role to play in fostering democracy and economic development.
“The West has a moral and strategic role to play, but so does Israel,” said Ghanem Nuseiba, the founder and director of Cornerstone Global Associates, a London-based strategy and management consulting firm. He said the key for ensuring that the Arab Spring created democratic societies is by ensuring economic development.
Calls for freedom and democracy have captured the world’s attention, but the grievances that spurred rebellion in Egypt and elsewhere were rooted in poverty and unemployment. While the Arab world has a way to go to evolving high technology economies, it can learn from Israel’s experience. “The Arab world sees how Israel has used technology to develop its economy,” Nuseiba said.
The U.S. sees its mission in facing the challenges of the Arab Spring in both fostering economic growth and democracy, said Dan Shapiro, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, at the conference. He admitted that there was no certainty that the forces of democracy would prevail, but insisted that helping to bring down autocrats – even those who had been reliable allies of the West – is in America’s best interest.
The region’s dictators had justified their rule as a choice between the stability they imposed and progress. “Today the real choice is between reform and unrest,” Shapiro said.
“The bottom line is that change in the Middle East and North Africa contain within it both risks and opportunities,” he said. “If these changes lead to true democracy… they can very much be in America’s national interest. But political transitions can be unstable and volatile – and they can be hijacked.”
Nevertheless, the U.S. is undertaking direct economic assistance to Egypt and Tunisia, the two countries where regime transition is furthest along. The White House is working with Congress to create enterprise funds for new businesses and offer political risk insurance through the government’s Overseas Private Investment Corporation. It is encouraging international agencies like the International Monetary Fund and World Bank to help, too, he said.
Shapiro said turned Nuseiba’s formula around, contending that democratic rule would not only create governments more favorable to the West and to Israel but foster economic development. “Democracies make for strong and stable partners, they trade more and they innovate more,” he said. “They channel people’s energy away from extremism and toward political and civic engagement.”
Shapiro reiterated Washington’s view that Islamic parties cannot be kept out of the democratic process, but they have to respect certain values – rejecting violence, respecting the rule of law, freedom of speech and the rights of women and minorities. “We will judge the political actors in these countries not by what they say but what they do,” he said.
“We must try to seize the opportunities, but we must undertake this with humility … the Arab future will be decided by the Arabs,” he said.
Turkey was redirecting its trade and diplomacy toward the Middle East even before the Arab Spring erupted, but Yasar Yakis, a former Turkish foreign minister, warned that Ankara’s ability to influence events is constrained by its history. It stood aloof from the Middle East for some 80 years, so it does not have the expertise and experience that the West has in the region, even if Turks themselves better understand the Arab “mentality.”
Moreover, the Arab world remembers Turkish rule from the Ottoman period “negatively” and is wary of any sign that Ankara is trying to wield too much influence. “Arab countries do not like interference from others in Arab affairs and Turkish interference is [regarded as] more sensitive than from other non-Arab countries,” Yakis said.
He acknowledged that the West faces a difficult dilemma of choosing between supporting old regimes that violate human rights and letting potentially hostile Islamist governments come to power through elections. But, Yakis said the West should come down on the side of change, agreeing with Shapiro that in the long run democracies are more likely to be stable, interfere less with their neighbors and, as open societies, become freer and more tolerant.
“If elections in the Arab Spring comply with the minimum standards of modern democracy, it would not be fair to ignore the results,” he said. “Ignoring them would harm the leverage of the international community over these countries.”
Israel Elad-Altman, a senior fellow at the Institute for Policy and Strategy at Israel’s Herzilya Interdisciplinary Center, discounted the influence Turkey has as a role model of a country that has remained democratic and become increasingly prosperous economically under the rule of the Islamist Justice and Development Party.
“Many people say the Arab countries should follow the Turkish example,” he said. “But their leading party isn’t really Islamist …Turkey has been secularizing for the last 80 years. Islam remains strong in the countryside, but secularism is strong, too. That hasn’t been the case in the Arab countries.”
Elad-Altman gave a more pessimistic outlook on the Arab Spring, saying that Islamist parties are unlikely to moderate their anti-Western and anti-Israel stances if they come to power. He said he foresees an ideological debate that pits those saying that the goals of decades of struggle should never be jettisoned against those who say the imperatives of consolidating rule and the economy demand compromises, such as encouraging Western tourism.
“It’s an open question which of these approaches will prevail, but I doubt we’ll see major ideological concessions,” he said.
On the positive side, he said, the Arab Spring has strengthened the GCC, which has shifted from a passive political role into taking an assertive stance that is counterbalancing the influence of Iran.
Another positive outcome is the weakening of Iran’s influence. The Shiite state had hoped to exploit the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq later this month to assert to its influence on its neighbor, creating a zone influence stretching across the region to President Bashar Al-Assad’s Syria and Hizbullah-dominated Lebanon and the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.
But the unrest in Syria, now in its ninth month and showing no signs of letting up, has forced Iran to moderate its ambitions as it tries to shore up its ally in Damascus. “The Arab Spring has deal a major blow to the axis of resistance,” Elad-Altman said.
- Rejection Of Third Runway For Heathrow Causes Airport To Be Less Competitive
- The Best Way To Use A Cash Advance
- Personal Loan: Friend in Financial Needs. Advance Source of Cash
- Immediate Payday Loans
- Unsecured Loans – Loans Without Collateral
- No Teletrack Online Payday Loan – Apply At Your Home Over Internet
- Prime Minister Says Portugal Doesn’t Need IMF Help
- Russia, Egypt In $6.6 Billion Telecom Deal
- Indian Minister Projects 9 Percent Growth, Open Doors For Investors
- Fast Unsecured Personal Loans ? your Quick Cash Option
Comments
1,727 Responses to “Fast Unsecured Personal Loans ? your Quick Cash Option”
Leave a Reply
What i find difficult is to find a blog that can capture me for a minute but your blog is different. Bravo.
Hi there! This is my first comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and tell you I really enjoyed reading this.
I already bookmarked your website and will revisit your website again, please keep up your good job. Thanks!
I totally love Justin Bieber. He is so amazing. He’s one of my favorite stars ever and he’s really cute too. What do you suppose is going on with him and Kim Kardashian? Are they just friends or is it something more? He’s way younger than her!
2011 Happy New Year! I would like to thnx for the time you have put in writing this blogpost. I am hoping the same high-grade post from you in the upcoming as well. In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my own blog now. Truly the blogging is spreading its wings rapidly. Your write up is a fine example of it.
It took me several days to completely replace regular cigarettes with the electronic cigarette.
Hi, I found your website through Google when searching for 1st aid for a heart attack and your post looks pretty useful for me.
Magnificent website. Plenty of useful info here. I’m sending it to several friends ans also sharing in delicious. And obviously, thanks for your effort!
1. Outstandingstory indeed. We have been looking for this information.
I wanted to say your blog is almost amazing. I always like to hear something new about this because I have the similar blog in my Country on this subject so this help´s me a lot. I did a search on the issue and found a good number of blogs but nothing like this.Thanks for writing so much in your blog.. Greets, Dominik
Just wanted to say your blog is kinda awesome. I always like to learn something new about this because I have the similar blog in my Country on this subject so this help´s me a lot. I did a search on the subject matter and found a good number of blogs but nothing like this.Thanks for sharing so much in your blog.. Greets, Roman
I think you have produced many rather interesting points. Not as well many others would actually think about this the way you just did. I am truly impressed that there is so much about this subject that has been revealed and you made it so nicely, with so considerably class. Top-notch one, man! Really special things right here.
Howdy, simply turned into alert to your post via Google, and found that it’s truly educational. I’m gonna watch out for brussels. I will appreciate in the event you proceed this in future. A lot of other folks shall be benefited out of your writing. Thankx
Hi there, just became aware of your weblog via Yahoo, and located that it’s truly informative. I am going to be careful for brussels. I’ll appreciate if you proceed this in future. Lots of folks will be benefited out of your writing. TQ
Amazing! It’s like you read my mind! You seem to know a lot about this, just like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you can do with some pics to drive the content home a bit, but other than that, this is helpful blog. A wonderful read. I’ll certainly revisit again.
Man! It is like you read my mind! You seem to know a lot about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you could do with some images to drive the message home a bit, besides that, this is great blog. A wonderful read. I will definitely be back.
Major thankies for the article post.Much thanks again. Keep writing.
I was so lucky. I found the best website for my Immediately following excellent basic research, I really found the best Arcade game Gloucester City
thanks for this nice tips
I do agree with all of the ideas you’ve presented in your post. They’re really convincing and will definitely work. Still, the posts are too short for starters. Could you please extend them a bit from next time? Thanks for the post.
In fact your imaginative writing abilities has inspired me to start out my own weblog now.
You’re not the common blog author, man. You certainly have something powerful to contribute to the World Wide Web. Such a wonderful blog. I’ll be back for more.
I was so lucky. I found the best website for my Immediately following so much evaluation, I found the best Party magic Chadds ford
Hello clever points.. now why did not i consider those? Off subject barely, is that this web page sample merely from an unusual installation or else do you utilize a custom-made template. I take advantage of a webpage i’m in search of to enhance and properly the visuals is probably going one of the key things to finish on my list.
Hello there, simply become aware of your website through Yahoo, and located that it is really informative. I’m gonna watch out for brussels. I’ll appreciate if you happen to continue this in future. A lot of folks will probably be benefited from your post. Cheers!
I’m impressed, I have to say. Very rarely do I come across a blog thats both educative and entertaining, and let me tell you, you’ve hit the nail on the head. Your post is outstanding; the matter is something that not a lot of people are talking intelligently about. I’m really happy that I stumbled across this in my search for something relating to this.
Say, you got a nice article post.Much thanks again. Really Cool.
This post something sure worth understanding. There are tons of websites that simply make no sense. Please keep up the good posting and loads more people will keep coming again.
I loved as much as you will receive carried out right here. The sketch is tasteful, your authored subject matter stylish. nonetheless, you command get bought an edginess over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come further formerly again since exactly the same nearly very often inside case you shield this hike.
This was a brilliant read, hopefully everyone else agrees.
I was very happy to seek out this net-site.I needed to thanks in your time for this glorious learn!! I definitely having fun with every little little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to take a look at new stuff you blog post.
Well written article. Thanks for writing body
Mary Shu has it correct. AOL is redesign is completely around the incorrect l ist.
Im impressed. I dont think Ive met anyone who knows as much about this subject as you do. Youre truly well informed and very intelligent. You wrote something that people could understand and made the subject intriguing for everyone. Really, great blog youve got here.
Can I make a suggestion? I think youve got something good here. But what if you added a couple links to a page that backs up what youre saying? Or maybe you could give us something to look at, something that would connect what youre saying to something tangible? Just a suggestion.
I in point of fact like this post, i did not appreciate a destiny of the things that you posted in here. i ahve much more latest information apropos these topics and topics tied up to it. some people may upon it implacable to understadn the english language but i find it moderately easy for the confidentiality that has come to be what is todays policy.
Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon!
cool post , from some reason i am been reading a lot about this during the last weeks
Hiya, I’m really glad I’ve found this info. Today bloggers publish only about gossips and net and this is actually frustrating. A good blog with exciting content, that’s what I need. Thank you for keeping this web-site, I’ll be visiting it. Do you do newsletters? Can’t find it.
You got a really useful blog. I have been here reading for about an hour. I am a newbie and your success is very much an inspiration for me.
Hey man, was just browsing through the internet looking for some information and came across your blog. I am impressed by the information that you have on this blog. It shows how well you understand this subject.
A thoughtful opinion and ideas I will use on my blog. Youve obviously spent a lot of time on this. Well done!
Thanks for sharing these useful information! Hope that you will continue doing nice article like this.
Quite a beautiful website. I built mine and i was looking for some design ideas and your website gave me some. Did you develop the website alone?
This post seems to recieve a great deal of visitors. How do you promote it? It offers a nice individual twist on things. I guess having something useful or substantial to say is the most important thing.
cool post . it is rank pretty high on google !
Hey, I can’t view your blog properly within Opera, I actually hope you look into fixing this.
The next time I learn a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as much as this one. I imply, I know it was my option to read, however I actually thought youd have something fascinating to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you can fix should you werent too busy on the lookout for attention.
Extermely informative post here. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with me. I’ll certainly be back.