Desert Storm
DESERT STORM AND THE MIDDLE EASTERN TURBULANCE
- Abdulla Madumoole
The Imam of Grand Masjid in Mecca declares during a Friday sermon recently “revolting against the rulers is haram or prohibited in Islam”, Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei says a movement of Islamic nations is started in the Middle East region for achieving Islamic objectives, Muammer Gaddafi says yet another thing – rebels in Libya are orchestrated by Al Qaida. Different leaders interpret differently the happenings of the past few months in the Middle East depending on the colour of glasses they are wearing but a time has come now for the Arab leaders to remove their coloured glasses and face the truth head on.
The desert storm is blowing fast. Unlike the “Desert Storm” of 1990 necessitated by the invasion of Kuwait by Saddam Hussain, this storm has been created by an inward implosion in the region, though traces of external influence is clearly visible. The storm is so strong that even in the less vulnerable Gulf countries tremors are felt while in other Middle Eastern countries it has uprooted regimes or at least shaken the foundations of empires and kingdoms. The uniqueness of the Middle Eastern countries – autocratic rule, oppression of people, unemployment, poverty of the masses, human rights violations – is the main reason why countries after countries have collapsed or are collapsing like a pack of cards. No one would have imagined a few months back that a small trigger in Tunisia would cause such a ripple effect throughout the Middle East. Mohammed Bouazizi lit himself on fire on December 17, 2010 in a small town of Tunisia protesting against police brutality against him but the fire went out of control, caught the entire Middle East. The pressure compressed for the last few decades has been finally burst open.
Last three months have been anxious moments not only for Arabs but also for expatriates living in Middle East. A close look at what is happening in this region and why it
- Abdulla Madumoole
The Imam of Grand Masjid in Mecca declares during a Friday sermon recently “revolting against the rulers is haram or prohibited in Islam”, Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei says a movement of Islamic nations is started in the Middle East region for achieving Islamic objectives, Muammer Gaddafi says yet another thing – rebels in Libya are orchestrated by Al Qaida. Different leaders interpret differently the happenings of the past few months in the Middle East depending on the colour of glasses they are wearing but a time has come now for the Arab leaders to remove their coloured glasses and face the truth head on.
The desert storm is blowing fast. Unlike the “Desert Storm” of 1990 necessitated by the invasion of Kuwait by Saddam Hussain, this storm has been created by an inward implosion in the region, though traces of external influence is clearly visible. The storm is so strong that even in the less vulnerable Gulf countries tremors are felt while in other Middle Eastern countries it has uprooted regimes or at least shaken the foundations of empires and kingdoms. The uniqueness of the Middle Eastern countries – autocratic rule, oppression of people, unemployment, poverty of the masses, human rights violations – is the main reason why countries after countries have collapsed or are collapsing like a pack of cards. No one would have imagined a few months back that a small trigger in Tunisia would cause such a ripple effect throughout the Middle East. Mohammed Bouazizi lit himself on fire on December 17, 2010 in a small town of Tunisia protesting against police brutality against him but the fire went out of control, caught the entire Middle East. The pressure compressed for the last few decades has been finally burst open.
Last three months have been anxious moments not only for Arabs but also for expatriates living in Middle East. A close look at what is happening in this region and why it