Anarchy and instability are spreading across the globe and many claim the US is the reason why, writes Doaa El-Bey Although Washington claims it is trying to create a new world order, many writers have been commenting on the US failure to usher in democracy or create better conditions in the many states it is involved in. Such inability was magnified by George Bush's recent declaration that the situation in Iraq was akin to Vietnam where American troops were ultimately forced to retreat. Fouad Dabbour, from the Jordanian daily Ad Dostour , wrote that in its attempt to rule the Middle East and in fact the world and to create a new world order, the US is attacking other states and also dividing the world into good states that follow the US and evil nations that do not bow to American dictates. As a result, the latter are subjected to direct punishment like war or sanctions or indirect punishment like interfering in their internal affairs and the incitement of internal conflicts which could lead to civil wars. The present situation shows that the US failed to achieve its purported goal of democratic change anywhere in the world. In Iraq and Afghanistan it is facing what Dabbour described as brave resistance; in Lebanon its Zionist forces were utterly defeated; it failed to persuade Syria to stand with it in its war against Iraq; it did not succeed in convincing Iran to give up its nuclear programme and it failed to persuade North Korea to halt its nuclear tests. "The latest developments in Iraq have shown that the American occupation will end very soon. It also proved that however ferocious wars may be, they do not force free people to bow and instead always end in the defeat of the aggressor, as history shows. It is probably high time for the neocons in the US to read history and learn from it," Dabbour wrote. Irfan Nizameddin agreed that the US failed to establish a new world order in the Middle East. Instead, he wrote in the London-based daily Al-Hayat, the Middle East is now weak and disintegrated. "Instead of the 'creative' or 'constructive' anarchy that the neocons aimed for, the world is in a state of destructive international anarchy." In the wake of 11 September, the US waged a war to create a world free of terrorism and terrorists. But, Nizameddin added, the threat of terrorism is real and the influence of Al-Qaeda is spreading more than ever before. He said he believed that the American-British declaration that terrorism increased after the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan was proof of their failure. Buthayna Shaaban wrote in the London-based daily Asharq Al-Awsat that the so-called fledgling democracies the US created in Iraq, Afghanistan and Lebanon are worrying Arab states "because such democracies represent only destruction, anarchy and the humiliating sanctioning of the historic, religious and cultural identity of people without any respect to international laws or ethics." As a result, "US policies should show Middle Eastern people that creating a better tomorrow lies in adhering to our identity, culture, dignity and values away from US double standards that link our region to American and Israeli interests," Shaaban wrote. Umran Al-Ubaidi wrote about the failed American project to build a democratic Iraq that would lead to a new Middle East. In the daily Iraqi Al-Sabah, Al-Ubaidi criticised American policies in Iraq because it treats Iraq as one of its colonies. At a time when US forces are responsible for security in Iraq, the American Ambassador to Iraq Zalmai Khalilzada declared that the government has two months to contain ethnic violence. Meanwhile, the national unity government is still finding its way. "The various parties in the Iraqi government are still trying to absorb the changes in their country and bridge the gap with other parties... Mutual confidence among the parties is missing," he wrote. Al-Ubaidi believed the Iraqi and US governments need to work together to face the realities created on the ground after the regime change in Iraq and according to their mutual interests. Although Abdullah Al-Seweigi predicted President Bush would not realise any victory in Iraq, he warned against the sudden withdrawal of US forces. In the United Arab Emirates daily Al-Khaleej , Al-Seweigi referred to Bush's declaration that he was against withdrawing from Iraq because that would leave some of America's allies like Israel "surrounded by enemies" while some other countries would be governed by extremist forces which could cut the oil supply to the West. "Bush declared he is in Iraq to protect the Zionist entity and oil supplies and prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. He did not mention anything about democracy for the Iraqi people," Al-Seweigi wrote. He said if US forces left Iraq, their absence would plunge the country into complete chaos. He thus wondered whether this was what the US planned beforehand.
