Topic of the Week

Arabs & Africans, how serious a rift?

As our affiliates at Or Does it Explode? recently pointed out, this report by the Associated Press does indeed raise an issue that warrant immediate and serious consideration. For the nature of Afro-Arab relations have always been problematic, as the current tragic developments in Darfur and Somalia can attest. Indeed, and in the last year alone, more people died as a result of internecine warfare in Darfur between Arab African tribes, both Muslim, than in the entire Arab-Israeli Conflict. Still, the attention afforded to this issue in Arab press and public discourse remains far incommensurate with the nature of the unfolding tragedy and official Arab response has been all too reluctant, if not nonexistent.

So, what’s really going on here? Why do Arabs pay more attention to the Arab-Israeli conflict than they do to the more bloody and equally long-standing conflicts in the Sudan and Somalia?

Are we already on a countdown for war with Iran?

Theories proliferate regardless the meaning and significance of Condy Rice’s references to the New Middle East and difficult birthing throes. Were they intended as hints to some ongoing war preparations against certain regimes in the Middle East long deemed rogue by the current Administration? Or, did they come merely as a reflection of a momentary feeling of optimism following the onset of Israeli strikes against Hezbollah? Whatever the case may be, we at Tharwa are interested in hearing your analysis of the situation. As usual, brevity and courtesy are our motto.

Should the United States negotiate with Islamist groups? Results

Yes it should 54% (7)

No it should not 8% (1)

Yes, provided they renounce violence and make clear commitments to civil rights 38% (5)

Total number of votes is 13.

Should the United States negotiate with Islamist groups?

Islamist groups are emerging everywhere and are having an increasingly influential role in the making of politics in the region, both as non-state actors (Hezbollah, the Muslim Brotherhood) and as the official representatives of certain states, whether they were democratically elected (Hamas in the Occupied Palestinian Territories), or have imposed themselves on the scene by sheer force (the Sharia militias in Somalia). This state of affairs is creating a reality that the US cannot afford to ignore.

But, how should the US deal with it? Should it continue to ignore these movements and hope that they would go away somehow? Should it try to expedite their destruction by supporting their enemies, or attacking them directly? Or, is their room for some kind of a dialogue here, no matter how unlikely it might at first appear? Let’s not forget here that the US has indeed engaged in some dialogue with Islamist figures and movements in Iraq.

This is your chance to have your say on this important matter. Remember, the only condition here is to maintain a civil dialogue and refrain from making any kind of slurs.

What constitutes the greatest threat to stability in the Middle East? - Results

US interventionism 22% (7)

Israeli aggression 19% (6)

Authoritarian regimes     13% (4)

Islamist movements 22% (7)

Iranian ambitions 9% (3)

Underdevelopment 16% (5)

Total number of votes is 32.

What constitutes the greatest threat to stability in the Middle East?

The Tharwa Community wants to give you the chance to express yourself on topics of importance and relevance to the future of the Middle East and international politics. For this reason, we are launching this simple service meant to help you share your views and opinions upon the latest and most critical developments in the region. We hope this service will help us further our mission to increase intercommunication between people from this region and the world.

The approach is very simple. To the right you will find a simple poll that you can take, and in the comment section you can take some time, if you will, to explain and justify your answer and debate your point of view with other commenters. The only condition to maintain a civil dialogue and refrain from making any kind of slurs.

This week’s topic: What, in your opinion, constitutes the greatest threat to stability in the Middle East?