Iran: Arab Unrest Propels Iran as Saudi Influence Declines
Arab Unrest Propels Iran as Saudi Influence Declines
Summary of the article :
Because of the revolts in the Arabic world, Iran has strengthen their
position (they have send some warships through the Suez Canal it was the
first time since the revolution in 1979 they passed the Suez Canal and Egypts
new military leaders didnt stop them.) While Iran their position is strengthen, its
rival Saudi Arabia has became weaker. King Abdullah started a policy to head
of the unrest in the country by announcing new invests in welfare for the
people. But the main reason why there is unrest in Saudi Arabia that theyre
enclosed by the countries whore very unstable at the moment and also because
of the uprising of the Shiit majority while the leader is a Suni. Also the
partnership of Saudi Arabia with the United States, could lead to some
resistance of the people of course Iran could be the big winner in this
situates. Some people think that Saudi Arabia have to worry, that the region is
ripe for Iranian exploitation. And Iran has shown in the past that its capable
to take advantages of the regional instability.
Even though the circumstances can change for Iran, for instance when popular
political movements take the control. But the troubles in the Arabic world have
also removed the attention from Irans nuclear program and this leads to
disturbance of attentiveness of the international movements. Irans influence
grows each day, since 11th of September theyve beaten the Taliban
in Afghanistan and Saddam Hussein in Iraq this leads to a bigger force of
Iran. The country could also gain force through the growing assertiveness of
the Shiites. Shiites have been discriminated by the Sunnis; a good example is
Bahrain where 70% Shiites are discriminated by the Sunni rulers. Since last
week, they began a public protest where they ask for democracy. First the
government used lethal force to try to stop the opposition, and 7 people were
killed. Now the government wants to speak with the huge numbers of Protestants,
but they want that the government retrieves and the people also rejected the
Irans type of Islamic government.
But at the end the main question is, will Iran maintain to increase their
influence in the Arabic World or will another movement?
My opinion:
It seems clear to me that the Arabic world need to be reconstructed by a
government chosen by its people. Whether its a Shiit or a Suni, the people
need to vote for those ones who are representative for their country, whatever
the religion or origin is. But my opinion is also that Iran could form a treat
for the Arabic world. Its dangerous and frightening to see that one country
could dominate the thinking and actions of a part of the world. And I also
think that it is best for the Arabic world that big countries like the United
States dont interfere too much because this could lead to an anti Western
reaction of the people and this could lead to a positive reaction of the
citizens to radical movements (like Hezbollah, Hamaz, ). Thats why I think the
United States should only say something about the protection of the human
rights, not about how they should lead a country. So the transition of a new
policy could happen peaceful without any bad influences from the outside.
But I guess there are also treats from inside, Im concerned that the
discrimination could separate the citizens. Like here in Belgium, we have two
different parts Wallonia and Flanders, and my opinion is that its a little bit
comparable with the Shiites and Sunnis in Saudi Arabia. The population can come
along but the problem is that the leaders of the politic parties drift the two
races apart. And this leads to discomforts, disagreement, riots, that makes it
hard to lead or rule a country. So in this case I would recommend the people to
vote for a moderate, mixed government, were both races are representative. And
as far as Im concerned I think that if the people would vote for a moderate,
mixed government, were both races are representative that Iran would have no
shot to dominate and rule the Arabic World.
