Below are excerpts from recent editorials related to the war in Iraq appearing in newspapers in the Middle East. Translations provided by Middle East Media Research Institute.
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“It is a surprising historical paradox that the most modern civilization is fighting the most ancient human civilization with false arguments and in an attempt to vie for its resources. This is strange. The North has always accused the South that it was backward and primitive but now it is clear that the man with AWACS, bombs, missiles and the modern scientific discoveries is the same man from the stone ageÖ”
Al-Riyadh – Saudi Arabia. March 21
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“It is not possible to separate the current crisis from the crisis and the Gulf war of 1991. For those who suffer from a weak memory let me say: the first and only responsibility for initiating the aggression, attack and occupation of Kuwait without any justification other than the desire for expansion and hegemony and the violation of international and Arab legitimacy Ö came from those who ruled Baghdad. Let me then summarize this point: ‘I say that the primary responsibility carries the names of a person who made the tragic decision in 1991 and carries his name twice and thrice – Saddam, Saddam, Saddam.’ “
Al-Ahram – Egypt. March 21
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“George Bush loves fire games. Instead of offering his mother flowers during the holiday he offers burned cities from far, far away, from the heart of the deep-rooted human history, and from the depth of the human civilization among which one is ‘Baghdad,’ a second called ‘Babel’ and a third called ‘Nineveh’ and fourth whose name he could not remember because of its difficult (spelling).”
George Bush loves fire games. Yesterday he let go of his gigantic air fleets, those seen exceeding sound barriers and those like ghosts which cannot be seen dump their bombs which weigh tons over the dreams of the children and the young Ö”
Al-Safir – Lebanon. March 21
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“In the face of the total darkness which engulfs the Arab world, following the unjust American attack on Iraq, we emphasize the importance of protecting the Egyptian national front. It means it should be protected in the framework of the supreme national interest and (we should) frustrate any conspiracy against the Arab nation Ö We must stand firm against any violation of our national security that takes advantage of the tragedy of this war. We must all join hands and cooperate to protect our national front and oppose any action that would affect our security or stability.”
Al-Akhbar – Egypt. March 21, 2003.
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This editorial address fears that the war in Iraq is the start of an American plan to reshape the region. “The redrawing of the regional map is not governed strictly by military considerations or the result of a military action against one country in the region. There are political, military, economic, and geographic considerations intertwined with international factors Ö In the Iraqi case, it is a country which placed itself in a serious predicament because of the (ideas) that governed its leadership since it took power. President Saddam Hussein has exceeded the boundaries of the international political and military game and led his country first into war with Iran Ö Then he led the country into another disaster Ö which is the occupation of Kuwait, which turned Iraq into an outlaw country, internationally ostracized and politically, economically, and militarily besieged Ö These historical errors have become mortal errors which led the regime to where it is today. Iraq is not like Saudi Arabia or Egypt. These two countries are stable countries in terms of regime, economy, and political and religious harmony. Additionally, they have firm relations with other countries. This is true to some extent with regard to Iran as well, despite its problems with the U.S. These countries have immunity that protects them from conspiracies regarding the redrawing of the region’s map. This immunity does not exist with regard to Iraq.”
Al-Watan – Saudi Arabia. March 21
