| Reluctant Acceptance |
15 September 2003
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Arabs Recognize Iraq
There is no doubt that the Bush administration has bungled, blundered and bumbled its way along since the murderers of Al-Qaeda attacked the United States. There are advantages, though, to being the big kid on the playground, not least of which is getting one's way through the reluctant acquiescence of others. So, even though there is no real Iraqi government with any real power, the US-picked Iraqi National Council has been recognized by the Arab League; the occupation has been accepted by the Arab world.
Historically, Iraq has always been important in the Arab world, and its representation in Arab discussions has been psychologically vital. Simply, Baghdad looms larger than Amman, Tripoli or Gaza City in Arab culture and tradition.
With the American-British-Polish occupation of Iraq, the Arabs have faced an uncomfortable situation -- accept the hand picked committee that may some day evolve into the legitimate government of Iraq, or look for another group to back in defiance of the US and its allies. The Saddamite regime was very good at preventing opposition groups from forming, and the exiles are on the Americans' committee. So, in fact, the choice was between Iraq and no Iraq.
This is not to say that the western occupiers can take their time about handing over power. Nor should they think for a moment that it means all Arabs have accepted the disposition of Iraq. What it does mean, though, is that external resistance is going to be on the level of terrorist bands, not counter-invasions and grants of asylum. The threat of civil war in Iraq remains as strong as ever, but the guns won't be coming from outside the country in any numbers. The Arabs have spoken on this.
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