Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak last weekend made some public comments that will likely make the job of forging Middle East peace more, not less, difficult.
Mubarak, long seen as irrelevant to developments unfolding rapidly in the volatile region, tried to make a point about Iraq but instead made a huge diplomatic blunder only to find himself on the wrong side of that country’s and other Arab peoples.
In a talk with the Al-Arabiya satellite TV, the pro-West leader of Egypt said Iraq is “effectively in a civil war.“ Parroting western charges about Iran’s role and influence, he claimed “There are Shiites in all these (regional) countries, and Shiites are mostly always loyal to Iran and not the countries where they live.“
The unintelligent and outrageous comments shocked many Iraqi and regional leaders, both Shiite and Sunni who have since demanded an apology from Cairo.
President Jalal Talabani, like most senior Iraqi politicians, denounced Mubarak and called on Cairo to explain.
The prime minister of the war-weary nation, Ibrahim Jaafari said, “The comments have upset the Iraqi people from different religious and ethnic backgrounds, and astonished the Iraqi government.“
One moderate Sunni political analyst who has monitored Egypt for almost three decades, made a very interesting remark about the Egyptian ruler. “Given his credentials, Mr. Mubarak is not in a position to comment on Muslims, leave alone on the Shiites,“ he told this writer.
The flak was not limited to Iraq and Iran and drew fire from Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. One senior Saudi Shiite cleric, Hassan al-Saffar, opined that Egypt’s military ruler had visibly insulted Shiites and called for his apology. In Kuwait, Shiite parliamentarians lambasted the “uncalculated remarks“ and also demanded an apology.
Few doubt that the comments were lowly accusations leveled against the Shiite majority of Iraq and Shiites in other countries. As an analyst at the Al-Ahram Political and Strategic Studies Center, Mohammad Sayed Said, said Mubarak insulted half of the Islamic world because he claimed 65 percent of the Iraqi population (the Shiites) are not loyal to their country, and regional Shiites are rather loyal to Iran than the countries where they live.
Irrespective of what Mubarak may claim, the reality in the regional countries, including Iraq, Bahrain and Lebanon shows that Shiites have always been loyal and proud of the countries where they dwell. Independence of these states is indeed the result of the untiring and selfless endeavors of Shiites.
Studying the history of Iraq and the developments that led to its independence, or the suffering of Lebanese Shiites and their prized victory in kicking out occupiers from their land, the continued and generous financial support from Shiites in Arab wars against the Zionists and their presence in the battlefields is valid proof of Shiite role in defending their integrity and sovereignty.
Any doubts about the Shiite loyalty to the countries where they live, are truly absurd and contradict their effulgent history which plainly shows they have done everything possible to defend their nations and have been respectful citizens.
Today Iraq is in the grip of sectarian violence and deepening instability emanating more from the illegal and brutal US-led military occupation than anything else.
It is not surprising that by invading and occupying Iraq, its enemies want to spread discord and division and provoke some sort of civil strife between the Shiites and Sunnis. It is worthy of mention that these two Iraqi groups have a history of understanding, harmony and friendship despite the tyranny and oppression of their rulers.
Impartial observers and informed people in the Arab world acknowledge that senior Shiite religious leaders and preachers have played a key role in helping prevent a civil war in Iraq despite the fact that terrorists and mercenaries have routinely killed and wounded innocent Shiite men, women and children after the US military occupation.
The present crisis in Iraq demands that all parties that can play an effective role in helping establish security and a popular-based government in that country rise to the occasion.
The Arab world can and must play its role before it is too late.
Age may be catching up with Mubarak. However, the uncalled for comments raise pretty serious doubts about his true intentions and that of other pro-western Arab rulers close to Cairo.
To say the least, such irresponsible statements will hinder not help the oppressed Iraqi people’s drive for peace, stability, democracy and political independence. One Arab leader has knowingly harmed the already painful political process in Baghdad. We can only hope the damage can be contained by the wise Sunni and Shiite leaders in and outside Iraq.