‘Military balance to deter conflict’

‘Power play in region at full swing’

“IT LOOKS like the image in the Arabian Gulf and the scenario in this part of the world is crystal clear and the America to which we have become accustomed to over the past 30 years is emerging once again,” columnist Abdulmohsen Juma’a wrote for Al-Jarida daily.

“In other words, the American attitudes in question refer to the so-called confrontation between Washington and Tehran which in the end is solved by the conclusion of a deal between the two parties through a third party which allows Iran to expand its influence and domination at the expense of the Arabs and this is exactly what happened in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen and partly in Afghanistan.

“May be this will happen again soon in the region where Iran is likely to be allowed to impose absolute dominion over the Arabian Gulf waters and the Strait of Hormuz in the face of the failure of a prospective coalition which Washington had called for founding to protect the international navigation.

“But it seems this time the American-Western scenario has started drawing the attention of the Gulf states since we are aware how some officials from the Gulf paid visits to Tehran to discuss with their Iranian counterparts the possibility of reducing tension and escalation in the region.

“This happens, although the Gulf states fully realize that the Iranians talking about peace and non-intervention in the internal affairs of the states of the region don’t carry any type of credibility, because we have heard this kind of talk since the reign of the former Iranian president Muhammad Khatami from mid-1990s up to 2005, but nothing has happened on the ground.

“Not just that such talk has ended in the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafik AlHariri and as a result the pro-Iran Lebanese Hezbollah succeeded in spreading its dominion over Lebanon and today we find the Iranians talking with the same accent and continuing in their maneuvers to seize the opportunities looking for new penetration in the region.

“If not, it will at least possess the weapon of mass destruction and will follow the example of Pyongyang (North Korea) in this connection. In this context, we expect that Israel will hasten to strike Iran, but this will not deter the latter’s ambition or end it entirely.

“Rather the Arabs will be hurt more as a result of the above, because the Iranian regime will not challenge Israel, since this regime will resort only to some limited military skirmishes in dealing with the latter and through its (Iran) wings in the region or may be through the war of words and speeches, particularly since we know that this type of war has been persisting between the Persians and the Zionists since 1979.

“Meanwhile, we know Iran destroyed Syria for the sake of serving its nationalistic expansionist project by not paying attention to the tremendous defect which is currently seen in the region which favors the Hebrew entity.

“Here, we as the Arabs of the citizens of the Gulf, should hasten to think about the example of the Indian subcontinent which is based on achieving the so-called ‘Balanced Deterrence’ between the two major powers India and Pakistan, where the international community has shown an understanding towards Pakistan’s need to have a qualitative weapon to create this balance in that region.

“Consequently, and in light of the above, we must tell the world about our need to possess a qualitative weapon to be equal with Tehran which it is striving to possess through its missile and nuclear program, particularly under Iran’s current involvement in destabilizing the security of the world’s main energy artery, given the fact our advice in this connection will not mean that we are striving to possess weapons of mass destruction, rather it will enable us to achieve a military balance between the two banks of the Gulf.”

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Juma’a

“All the books of modern history show that the United States of America was not a party in the World War II. Moreover, the attempts that were exerted during the time to persuade Washington to participate in this war and turning the balance in favor of the allies took many months where the then British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill had exerted efforts to convince the then US Congress and the government to take part in the war to defend the sublime principles which the Americans believe in – democracy and freedom,” columnist Dr Anwar Al-Shuraian wrote for Al-Shahed daily.

“However, since that moment, the United States of America has been the major player in the international arena, where it founded and dominated the major international organizations such as the United Nations and the organizations affiliated to it.

“Apart from the above, the consecutive US administrations have managed to dominate and control most of the global struggle areas by marketing itself as a world police promoting the principles of democracy, freedom and the human rights through its economic domination of the world trade in addition to its military existence in many countries in significant and strategic locations worldwide.

“In this context, in spite of the US domination for the past 29 years absolute or relative prior to the downfall of the former Soviet Union, we found how the US followed a polite and gentle policy in dealing with both its allies and its foes. In other words, what is said behind closed doors, have no relation to what is published by the media, about the same issue.

“America places on the table of negotiations whatever it wants without reservation. America who promotes the issues of human rights, freedoms and democracy and they are used as a weapon against countries which do not fall in line with its agenda.

“In spite of the above, this malicious American policy during half a century was beset with politeness and respect, and has gained the love and respect of many people around the world.

“This wickedness in the realm of politics can be seen as permissible because in this realm not everything is known, said or announced. In other words, achieving objectives and realizing the purposes allow the usage of all of the possible means, given the fact that this is not applicable to the states only, but to politicians.

“But the incumbent US President Donald Trump has introduced to us a new method when dealing with states and governments – unification of the US address between what would have been discussed behind closed doors and what is published by the media.

“In other words, Trump publishes everything impudently to embarrass both the US friends and the allies simultaneously. But what is strange is that Trump following the adding of impudence to the wickedness of the US politics, has managed to realize all things wanted by America from certain rulers in record time.

“However, Trump will leave the office after one year or may be after five years maximum, and the US shall return to its former policy and Trump’s impudence will disappear, but many of the world leaders shall remain in their positions, and the impudence of Trump and his sarcasms towards their states, shall remain with them.

“But the disgraceful manner in which these leaders succumbed shall remain in our minds and all social medias – be they audio visual or print for many centuries as a testimony of this humiliation – humiliation of these rulers who had succumbed to such impudent politics.

“Oh the presidents and the kings of humiliation, your history will remain with you, but the dignity of the states and the peoples and even if had remained silent, is not one of your properties.”

“The decision of the Iraqi government to dissolve the Popular Mobilization forces and merge them with State institutions has sparked wide debate on the Iraqi street. The emergence of the Popular Mobilization may initially be necessary and urgent on the Iraqi scene, after the emergence of ‘ISIS’ terrorism which swept into Al- Mosul and defeated the Iraqi Army that seemed disjointed, weak and collapsing in 2014,” Dr Abdulmohsen Hamada wrote for Al-Jarida daily.

“Popular and tribal mobilization emerged under these circumstances with the support of the religious authority. It was an effective tool in fighting against terrorism. When President Abadi took the premiership and became the supreme commander of the Iraqi Army, his main tasks were rebuilding the Iraqi Army and eliminating terrorism. Indeed, he rebuilt the army, defeated terrorism, celebrated Victory Day, and then issued a decree dissolving the Popular Mobilization believing that weapons should be confined to the State, and that the State should make the national army as the only institution responsible for its defense.

“Since Abadi was unable to win the premiership once again, the decision to dissolve was frozen and the government of Dr Adel Abdul Mahdi issued a resolution last week to dissolve the Popular Mobilization forces which means this problem has become an Iraqi demand.

“It is believed that the Popular Mobilization factions were formed on June 18, 2014 in response to the call of religious figure Ali Al-Sistani for the Iraqi people to take up arms to face the ISIS organization which took control over one-third of the territories of Iraq at the time, and described the fatwa of Al-Sistani jurisprudence as jihad competence.

“The fact that we hope to be understood by every Iraqi who loves Iraq and its future, they must realize that the Iraqi government’s decision to dissolve militias and confine weapons to the State is wise and in the interest of a war-ravaged Iraq. The Iraqi people should support the decision, especially since we know that some of those militias were founded in Iran and are more loyal to the Tehran regime than to the Iraqi State.”

“What we see in our beloved State of Kuwait is so strange and surprising that it is rare to find a similar occurrence elsewhere. Everyone conspires against the wretched consumers, especially some fish traders who do not fear God Almighty,” Adel Nayef Al-Maz’al wrote for Al-Anba daily.

“Our country Kuwait overlooks the Arabian Gulf Sea, and our dear people have a very long marine history. We are blessed with large sea so we wonder about the reason behind the crazy prices of fish. For example, one kilogram of al-Zubaidi now costs KD 10, Kuwaiti Hamour costs KD 7.5, a basket of mixed shrimp is sold for around KD 45-KD 62, domes is sold at KD 35, Sha’am KD 45, and Naqrour KD 55. Is this reasonable?!

“It is so astonishing and unfortunate that a sane mind cannot believe it as there is no explanation. It amounts to manipulation of the capabilities of these people. Prices of fish may rise all over the world, but its rise in Kuwait is an act of sabotage by a personality who has sold his conscience in order to absorb the blood of consumers, both citizens and residents.

“Kuwait is a sea state on the shores of the Arabian Gulf, so what are the reasons behind such crazy hike in prices of fish and others in a sea state whose people made it on the sea since ancient times? The export of fish seems to be a major factor in the fish crisis, so it is better to prevent the export of fish. The sea and its goods belong to all of us, and is not the preserve of anyone.

“Oh God, save my country Kuwait and its people from all evil, Ameen.”

“Dr Yaqoub Al-Sharrah (May Allah have mercy on him) wrote an article titled “Narcissism of Leadership”, which was published in Al-Rai daily on January 13,” Dr Turki Al-Azmi wrote for Al-Rai daily.

“The term “narcissist” is used to describe an individual who loves himself/herself to the extent of being obsessed, and some international medical centers refer to this condition as a psychiatric disease.

“In management/leadership science, there is a leadership style called “Narcissistic Leadership”. Such a leader cares only about himself at the expense of his/ her subordinates. Arrogance, hegemony and hostility are some of the symptoms of Narcissistic Leadership.

“When researchers and leadership experts wrote about it, they found that it is part of charismatic leadership, as per which a leader considers only his point of view due to his arrogance and is fascinated by his capabilities which he thinks are exceptional. This leads to the destruction of the institution or governance when run by such type of leaders.

“Sometimes we sit with leaders who, despite their high education, knowledge, experience, and record of achievements, seem to have fallen in the trap of selflove. When a “decision-making” leader reaches this state, do not expect any reform or improvement in performance.

“The leader of any institution – educational, health or others – sees only his surroundings, and we find him appointing whoever he wants irrespective of the criteria.

“Do we have a “narcissistic leadership” that is the cause for the failures that we are experiencing at the institutional, social and media level? There are a number of indications that affirm we have many such leaders.”

“Previously, National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim talked about the final and comprehensive solution to the Bedoun issue as per the directive of Humanitarian Leader HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah,” columnist Abdurrahman Al-Awwad wrote for Al- Sabah daily.

“After his meeting with HH the Amir in the presence of First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Lieutenant General Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah and Director of the Central System for Remedying the Status of Illegal Residents Saleh Al-Fadahala, Al-Ghanim disclosed the solution is radical, fair and comprehensive without prejudice to citizenship and national identity in a bid to treat Bedouns humanely. He indicated that the solution will start with legislation endorsed by the Assembly at the beginning of the next session or an emergency session during summer if the need arises.

“Now, we are waiting for the solution. We wish that those tasked to address the Bedoun issue will read the civil rights to implement the comprehensive solution. Nevertheless, Bedouns are suffering due to non-issuance of security card before signing a document stating they have nationalities which they know nothing about.”

— Compiled by Zaki Taleb