PA daily op-ed: US not so different from IS
Op-ed by Hafez Al-Barghouti, regular columnist for Al-Hayat Al-Jadida:
“[US Secretary of State] John Kerry informed us of the establishment of a coalition of 40 countries to fight IS, and before that, of a coalition to overthrow Qaddafi, and before that, of a coalition to conquer Iraq, and even before that, of a coalition against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. We had nothing to do with these coalitions, because, in the end, they did not serve Arab interests…
These coalitions caused Iraq, as well as Libya and Syria, to deteriorate into [a state of] complete anarchy. It was also decided to overthrow Egypt, [and this plan would have succeeded] had it not been for the decisiveness and unity of its army, which is on constant guard against Egypt’s enemies.
I believe that the war of IS and the American fool will only harm innocent people, and pave the way for some kind of foreign intervention in the Arab countries… Those who created, financed and armed IS, and made it possible for anyone to join it, did so under the pretext of overthrowing the Syrian regime, but all they did was destroy the Syrian people, the Syrian cities and Syrian history…
IS’ actions in Iraq may not be so different from those of the American forces and the Shi’ite militias who are their allies. Don’t believe they are fighting IS. They are only fighting the Arab nation.”
“[US Secretary of State] John Kerry informed us of the establishment of a coalition of 40 countries to fight IS, and before that, of a coalition to overthrow Qaddafi, and before that, of a coalition to conquer Iraq, and even before that, of a coalition against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. We had nothing to do with these coalitions, because, in the end, they did not serve Arab interests…
These coalitions caused Iraq, as well as Libya and Syria, to deteriorate into [a state of] complete anarchy. It was also decided to overthrow Egypt, [and this plan would have succeeded] had it not been for the decisiveness and unity of its army, which is on constant guard against Egypt’s enemies.
I believe that the war of IS and the American fool will only harm innocent people, and pave the way for some kind of foreign intervention in the Arab countries… Those who created, financed and armed IS, and made it possible for anyone to join it, did so under the pretext of overthrowing the Syrian regime, but all they did was destroy the Syrian people, the Syrian cities and Syrian history…
IS’ actions in Iraq may not be so different from those of the American forces and the Shi’ite militias who are their allies. Don’t believe they are fighting IS. They are only fighting the Arab nation.”