Middle East: Indifference threatens our own security

Since 9.11 'the west' has been forced to make sacrifices and compromises at the behest of our leaders to protect us from 'evil doers'who would otherwise harm us. The Bush/Blair narratives are almost identical - we send our young boys and girls to fight wars in foreign lands and we give up long held rights and freedoms [which we had come to think of as sacred] because the most important right, they say, is the right to life - through security - which is the ultimate goal.

When we observe events unfolding in the Middle East and the contemptuous response of Bush, Blair and other spineless world leaders and bodies - it becomes clear that our 'security' cannot possibly be the goal after all.

It seems fairly obvious that a price will ultimately be paid for our government's inaction - that 'crazy' 'evil' 'mindless' terrorists will see us as complicit in the horror being visited upon, primarily, innocent Muslims.

No serious observer denies that there was a link between the 7.7 atrocity in London and events outside the UK in Iraq and elsewhere. There was clearly a link between 9.11 and events in Palestine, Lebanon and elsewhere. Does anyone think that somehow today's crimes against humanity will not be cited after some new, dastardly, revenge terrorist attack next month or next year - on us?

State terrorism over there could well generate more terrorism here - and it is without doubt terrorism currently being inflicted upon civilians in Gaza and Lebanon - not to mention Afghanistan and Iraq.

Guardian

Bush's indifference drives conflict

Israel's assault on Lebanon, following Hizbullah's cross-border raid on Wednesday and weeks of unremitting bloodshed in Gaza, brought demands yesterday for international action to contain the crisis and mediate an end to the fighting. But the US, with its unmatched influence over Israel and as self-appointed guardian of the Middle East peace process, appeared reluctant to intervene.

Lebanon's appeal for the UN security council to step in is supported by most Arab governments and by France, Lebanon's former colonial master and the current security council president.

But the council has been vainly trying for a fortnight to agree a resolution on Gaza, with the US threatening to use its veto in defence of Israel. A consensus on the more complicated, fast-moving crisis now engulfing Lebanon is thus unlikely.

Other international bodies with pretensions to global peacemaking, such as Nato and the EU - part of the Middle East "quartet" - are currently reduced to the role of concerned bystanders. Russia says it will table the issue at this weekend's St Petersburg G8 summit. But that may only serve to underscore international divisions.

George Bush's administration warned yesterday of the dangers of destabilising Lebanon. But it otherwise made no serious attempt to curb Israel's offensive. Its spokesmen stuck instead to their favoured hands-off formula: "We are urging restraint on both sides [while] recognising Israel's right to defend itself," said a senior US official accompanying the president in Germany.

Mr Bush was vaguer when asked what he intended to do to prevent the violence spiralling out of control. "My attitude is this: there are a group of terrorists who want to stop the advance of peace. Those of us who are peace living (sic) must work together to help the agents of peace," he said. Link