What does the future hold? [Archives:2002/52/Viewpoint]

In a time when we have become certain that a war against Iraq is coming, we are anxious to know exactly what the future holds. Our government has already angered its people by assisting the U.S. to assassinate Yemeni citizens using an unmanned plane. It will even be put in an even more embarrassing situation once the war starts.
As a people, Yemeni are proud and attached to their religious and national identity. They would probably react strongly to such a step by the US, possibly causing Yemen to withdraw from the US-led coalition against terror.
In his statement to al-Jazeera Satellite Channel, President Saleh said the US “could lose this coalition and the international sympathy it received as a result of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks as well as the attacks on the Cole and the embassy in Nairobi.”
Hence, we expect turmoil and instability to climb in the Yemeni streets as days pass by, because to the very last moment, the government is expected to hold tight to its support of the US in its war against terror. This may happen despite the strong possibility of placing Yemen, again, on top of the list of potential targets in the future.
The US should realize the patience of Yemeni and Arab nations is being tested through the continuous American threats in the diminishing hopes in the possibility of resolving the Iraqi crisis peacefully.
It is also of great importance for the US administration to realize that even if Arab leaders agreed to support or at least stay silent concerning the strike against Iraq, Arabs and Muslims would be infuriated, causing possible violence in many parts of the world.
It can be observed that even though the war has not come, yet various attacks launched by al-Qaeda and others are already taking place in many parts of the world against Western interests. Hence, it would only be natural to realize that those attacks may rise in number causing great concerns for the US and its allies.
It is us, Arab and Muslim nations, that will be affected most from any further turmoil. We have already gone through a lot of wars in the past, but this war could be furious.
According to New York Times, President Saleh said in a meeting with George W. Bush that if he attempts to overthrow Saddam Hussein, it is like putting a cat in a cage, causing it to turn into a lion.
US President Bush responded in saying that “the only way to cure the cat is to cut off its head.”
But wait a second? Is the US sure it could cut off the head that easily?
Who knows, the cat may be eventually killed, but after the cage, and the whole room turns into a bloody site. Who want this to happen? It surely can be done, but the ones who will be affected most will be none other than the innocent people.

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