History is the best witness
Major powers act according to their interests
“THE British people were among the most prolific nations to have demonstrated against war for decades,” columnist and media man DrNajem Abdulkarim wrote for Al-Jarida daily.
“Otherwise, many countries would have not gained independence from British imperialism, including India, which was dubbed the ‘The Pearl of the British crown’.
“In the 1960s, the British philosopher Bertrand Russell set up an international tribunal that included many peace-loving institutions to try the United States, which was waging a war against Vietnam.
“Even in the case of the Palestinian cause, the British street was involved in organizing the largest demonstrations supporting the Palestinian people in the face of the Zionist crimes.
“Based on the above, I read the memoirs of the former British prime minister Tony Blair, a huge book consisting 932 pages, containing the history of this politician, who is no longer popular with the British, because of his involvement in making military contributions to a war led by America in the region when he was prime minister of Britain and specifically his role at the beginning of the 1990s in Iraq where he launched several campaigns and in his memoirs he responds to all his critics.
“On Page No. 515, for instance, Blair says, ‘I cannot be sorry for the decision of war, for the reason I will mention: I have never been able to predict the nightmare that resulted from the war, which is part of that responsibility, but the concept of responsibility does not refer to the burden of the past. The regret can be associated with the past, but the responsibility has its present and future character’.
“Then he goes on to recount the events that led to the fall of Saddam Hussein’s rule ... But he adds, ‘I left my position and was preoccupied with playing a completely different role, but I am still preoccupied with the same conflict, which caused all these events that I will describe: I speak truthfully when I say that I am thinking about Iraq and Afghanistan and what is going on there.
“I know that those who died I cannot bring them back to life no matter how expressions of regret, but I can devote a large part of my life to that, the broader conflict, in an attempt to give it meaning, purpose and determination to keep my responsibility to maintain activity.
“However, Tony Blair’s memoirs, is a recognition of the enormity of the war which is very similar. On page 715 he says, ‘The period after Saddam’s ouster from power in May 2003 was bloody, destructive, and chaotic. My job was to convince the reader of the validity of this issue, an issue that requires openness, and I thought a lot in the past whether I was wrong, but I did not ask the reader to think with me now if I was right’.
“However, Blair’s conclusion in his memoirs is that if Churchill (the former British prime minister) had entered history because he had destroyed (Germany’s Adolf) Hitler’s dreams, he will enter history for contributing to the elimination of Saddam Hussein’s dreams.”
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“A famous quote by Winston Churchill the British prime minister during the Second World War summarizes how big countries deal and act in their foreign policy with others. He said, ‘In politics there is no permanent enemy or permanent friend. There are permanent interests,” columnist
Owaied Al-Sulaili wrote for Al-Shahed daily.
“This rule that drives foreign politicians does not find a great echo among Arab politicians in general, and the Gulf politicians in particular especially those who practice politics according to their inherited values and customs.
“In other words, most politicians in our countries, or rather all of them, confuse their political work between passion and personal attitudes and between professional political action devoid of personal influence, and behave in many political positions from a personal perspective based on friendship and loyalty, generosity and honesty in spite of the malice and stupidity of many politicians and their deception, the great difference in political positions and the vast difference in understanding and interaction between the two sides.
“In this context, many examples have proved that the major powers are acting according to their interests. There is no continuous alliance to infinity. Today, the alliance may become enmity and rivalry if the balance of power and interests change.
“History is the best witness to this, especially what happened in the First World War and the change of coalitions during the World War II and allies turned into enemies during the Cold War. Politics is changing with the interests of states. There is no emotion to rule, no friendship, only interest.
“In the Gulf circles there is a lack of confidence and suspicions about the positions of the Americans in many Arab and Gulf issues, particularly those which are related to Iran, Jerusalem and Syria and the US support for the Arab Spring against the Arab regimes and the change of policy in exchange for regional interests, which is not surprising in politics because countries are always looking for their interests and not about permanent friends.”
“At its ordinary session Tuesday, the National Assembly approved of three draft laws in cooperation with the government, in addition to important amendments the citizens are eagerly waiting for,” columnist Abdulrahman Al-Awad wrote for AlSabah daily. “In the first session, the parliament endorsed draft laws amending some items of social insurance regulations concerning “early retirement,” and unanimously approved bills on commercial certification in its second session while referring another private sector bill related to full indemnity from 2010-2017 to the government.
“The National Assembly’s ability to pass laws in cooperation with the executive authority is boundless and evident in the harmonious atmosphere that prevailed during the session through total agreement between the two authorities in their bid to promote fruitful cooperation and coordination.
“The poor citizens who ‘hang’ their hope on the national assembly and the government do not want to witness tension between the two authorities, but understanding.”
“It is impossible for a country to become civilized under the rule of law if corruption from its root and source is not eradicated. It is also impossible to achieve comprehensive development without pursuing corrupt people and holding them accountable,”
Waleed Al-Rujaib wrote for Al-Rai daily. “It is worth mentioning that corruption is not limited to just looting the public wealth, forging official documents, violating the law or showing favoritism and wasta among others that destroy development and the building of a modern civilized country, but it also includes the process of appointments in high positions through electoral calculations and political deals. This is conducted by disregarding the principle of choosing the most suitable person for the right position, and also disregarding the principle of equal opportunity.
“The country currently needs competent people who can be recorded in history as strong people who embark and disembark in their tasks with clean hands and as people who are characterized by courage for the sake of building a strong Kuwait.
“The citizens of this country are bored and tired of leaders who promise integrity and sincerity behind the microphone but practice corruption through ‘parachute’ appointments, favoritism, nepotism and electoral gains.” “The name “Tabligh Jama’at” has been in the grapevine lately due to the confusion caused by the decisions, statements, circulars and information Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has been issuing in this regard over the last two weeks,”
Ali Mahmoud Khaja wrote for Al-Jarida daily.
“One of these decisions was to prevent the group from entering mosques without official approval from the relevant department. Such a decision was regarded as shameful and unjust, as the ministry cannot prevent anyone from entering mosques.
“However, this decision was cancelled immediately the next day. This was not because the decision was bad but because the ministry and the concerned department were under pressure to do so.
“The decision was published and sent to various newspapers. The reason behind the prevention, as per the justification of the department, was that some individuals of this group had stayed overnight in the women’s prayer area.
“First of all, who belong to the Tabligh Jama’at? Are they affiliated to any official authority that pushed Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs to issue an official circular with their name?
“Secondly, what is their ideology? Why did they rest in the women’s prayer area?
“In general, the confusion caused by the ministry in the last two weeks led us to highlight more on the ministry.”