BY Anwar Abdulrahman
MANAMA - This is an open letter to every delegate attending today's Manama Dialogue at the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel and Spa. As the nation's Press, we feel it our duty to explain to all of you how we view the security situation in this region.
Today's forum of global decision-makers - brought together by the International Institute for Strategic Studies - must primarily ask itself one big, important question. WHOSE SECURITY?
There are three parties involved - Gulf Co-operation Council states comprising Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, the UAE and Kuwait; Iran as a neighbouring state, and thirdly the United States of America.
To Gulf Arabs security means peace, trade, development of their countries along with a better standard of living for their people. Every state has been working hard to attain these aspirational goals - and the slightest disturbance in the region could dash their hopes.
To Tehran security means Iranian national safety alongside expansion of its ideology and influence.
The USA is pursuing economic interests, its aim summarised simply as a controlling interest without regional or international consideration.
Given this analysis one can understand the delicate nature of the word security in this region.
The United States is the world's most powerful nation, but even its own lawmakers admit it has in the past embarked on many misguided and arrogant policies - from the invasion of Iraq based on misleading intelligence that the country was harbouring weapons of mass destruction, to yesterday's revelation that Iran had ceased its nuclear arms programme four years ago - and that George Bush had been informed of this fact four months ago!
This leaves us wondering how such a vital party to these security discussions can be trusted as a non-partisan honest broker?
The botched occupation of Iraq has opened a door for Iran's regime to become (in the eyes of its followers in Iraq) a credible political and spiritual alternative to the failed US 'democratic' experiment.
We emphasise to delegates that the overwhelming majority of people in this region are not anti-American, but do blame the American nation for installing a man like George Bush together with his band of hawks in the White House - creating an ugly face of America now seriously tarnished in the eyes of the world.
Security can only be achieved by honest brokers who genuinely take into account the true interests of all parties in the region.
America, along with the other key players, has every right to maintain its interests, but not by ignoring the rights of others.
We urge all participants to imbue their deliberations and discussions with integrity and honesty for the sake of the region and the world at large.
