November 18, 2002	Monday	Ramazan 12, 1423

BEIRUT: A Lebanese well known political commentator, Issam Naaman, has said that had Osama bin Laden not been an Arab and Muslim, would the September 11 incident have assumed such global magnitude? And would it have led to such consequences, danger and warfare?

US President George W. Bush has denied that his reactions to the Sept 11 terrorist incidents have any racial dimension. However, those arrested and are currently interrogated by the US security authorities are only Arabs and Muslims, and their countries are being targeted on terrorism charges.

Arab League Secretary General Amr Mousa did not hesitate to uncover the truth at a recent conference entitled ‘Dialogue of Civilizations: Communication Not Conflict.’

“The Sept 11 events have not only affected the frames of civilization or culture, but also those who bear its identity. An Arab or Muslim has turned to be regarded guilty until his innocence is proved rather than being innocent until he is proved guilty” he said.

The US is almost on a collision course with 11 Arab countries with a population exceeding 300 million, and whose resources are spread over three-quarters of the Arab world economy.

The US has problems with Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Sudan, Libya, Algeria and Somalia. The US may have deferred problems with the remaining Arab countries.

Thus, Arabs or most of them in America’s view are terrorists, protectors of terrorists or fund-raisers for them. Indeed the US does not conceal its intention to settle scores with the most active of Arab countries in connection with the acts it complains against.

Have not the US president and Condoleezza Rice, his national security advisor, stated that the US is considering attacking some of the countries in the second phase of the ‘war against terrorism’ such as Iraq, the Sudan and Somalia, and possibly Syria and Lebanon, as well as Iran?

Are Arabs terrorists or being terrorized? Can Arab countries which are allies or friends of the US logically carry out terrorist acts against the US, fund them or harbour their perpetrators? If it were the case, why has the US kept silent throughout the pre-Sept 11 period?

Is it logical for the US to label resistance as terrorism merely because it targets the Israeli occupation of Arab territories?

The truth is that the US would not have done all that it has done against Arabs, had it not been extremely biased towards its own culture and interests as well as towards Israel.

The reason why the US has not started the second phase of its war against “terrorism” targeting several Arab countries is because it has not yet completed the first phase of the war, and because the second phase requires preparations not yet completed due to the fact that American public opinion needs to be oriented before its youth and resources are engaged in new costly wars.

The truth is that Arabs, particularly their leaders, are not terrorists but are rather being terrorized. The US and Israel are terrorizing them with the might, savvy and determination they posses.

Apart from suicidal fighters, Arabs or the majority of them, appear to demonstrate to the world a state of incompetence in awareness and lack of courage.

Is the Arab situation hopeless? It is hopeless for a lot of leaders who are frightened. However, it is not hopeless for the conscientious and gallant elites committed for their people’s culture, goals and interests.