Diplomacy

    We have all heard the many jokes about George Bush Jr.’s low IQ and non-existent wits, how his poor knowledge on world affairs cost thousands of Americans lives and billions of dollars and how anyone – including the commentator - could have made a better decision on the Iraqi and Afghani files. Funny were the jokes I admit, but perhaps not quite accurate. The same comic approach is being used to describe Obama’s administration and persona, where not only is the president depicted as being lost and weak, but also as unwitty and not so shrewd when it comes to international affairs. Perhaps analysts and political observers have their right to such an argument, but as an average Arab citizen with some interest in political issues, I concluded that this argument does not hold.

    My observation was strengthened after the announcement of the deal struck between the Axis of Evil and Satan himself on the nuclear file, but of course, name-calling was dropped on the happy occasion. Leaving Israel livid at the break through and the world split between those happy for the victorious Iran and those ashamed with American - and UN- weak diplomacy, the agreement can be considered one of the most significant achievements of Obama’s administration. Iran and the P-5+1 agreed on November 23^rd in the third round of talks in Geneva that Iran would cap further enrichment at 5%; not increase its stockpile of 5% uranium; not increase its centrifuge capacity to enrich uranium; stop nuclear-related advances on the Arak facility and allow IAEA inspectors enhanced access to nuclear facilities, uranium mines, and centrifuge manufacturing sites. In return, the P-5+1 agreed to suspend sanctions on Iran’s petrochemical exports, trade in gold and precious metals, auto industry, and civilian aviation; not impose new UNSC sanctions or EU nuclear-related sanctions; the U.S. Administration to refrain from imposing new nuclear-related sanctions; and facilitate humanitarian trade using Iran’s frozen oil revenue held abroad.

      Whilst Israel warned that fundamentalist, anti-semitic and straight from hell Iran cannot be trusted and Gulf States deciding how to break up with Washington, the UNSC and USA in particular hailed the agreement as an important step towards resolving the controversial nuclear file and neutralizing the crisis for some time. Was it a wise decision? Did Iran come out victorious? Did Tehran outwit everybody’ else? Was Obama lost and a bit, well, dumb? Well not really.

   Observing statements that have been made by either sides for the last month or two, one can note a change in tone in both US and Iranian officials. For instance, it was no coincidence that Tehran’s temporary Friday preacher stressed during his sermon late October that using nuclear weapons was Haram, that one week earlier to that Rohani in a national speech said that he hoped the new Swiss ambassador to Iran would reveal Iran’s good intentions to Washington and that the infamous opposition figures Meer Husein Musawi and Mahdi Karroubi, under house arrest since 2011 (after leading the green revolution that questioned the 2009 elections) were to be subjected to less severe control procedures in a decision made around the same time. On the international realm, it was also no coincidence that in late October Britain decided to resume its diplomatic representation in Iran, deciding to reopen its embassy in Tehran and in fact appointing a non-resident charge d'affaires to Iran later in November (after two years after Iran’s ambassador was expelled from the UK following the storming of the British embassy in Tehran in 2011). The timing of the the leader of EU parliament's socialist group and the two socialist representatives' visit to Tehran in October in an attempt to break the ice was no mere coincidence either. On the last note, Khameni's calls for friendly relations with all nations, including the USA in a speech made in late October was not a slip of a tongue. All were preparatory steps towards mending bridges.

     Based on the above, the rapprochement between the West and Iran was no sudden move and no hidden affair; the USA therefore was only acting as per a strategy to accommodate the Persian giant into a friendly zone where it seems that history is turning its page on the mutual accusations, mistrust and animosity between. Whether it was based on the objective of avoiding a new costly war, an attempt to neutralize Tehran on the Syrian file, or an actual and genuine attempt to slow down the nuclear program, the strategy did in fact work. No blood was shed, no loss of lives, no financial burdens, no unnecessary regional spill overs or a great deal of meaningless and empty rhetoric. The West, and Iran, got what they wanted at the least costs paid.

      The shrewd Henri Kissinger said that Diplomacy: the art of restraining power. It is not if you are not with us you are against us, it is not deadlines and threats, it is not falsification of reports, not group punishment or religious wars …it is as Kissinger exactly said: restraining oneself from use of power when possible. The Obama administration came out victorious in the end: a halted nuclear program, a rapprochement with Tehran that may be a first step to understandings on other files, a removed threat from Israel and a demonstration to the entire world that Iran could, and did, compromise, even to Satan himself. Bravo Obama, bravo diplomacy and bravo intellect. To conclude, accusations regarding Obama's passiveness and lack of action are inaccurate and perhaps too haste...he achieved all that he promised with absolute elegance and calculation... a true diplomat and an intelligent one as well. 

Reinvent the Wheel

      Revolutions, counter revolutions, toppling autocratic regimes, restoring old regimes, military coups and political Islam revivalism have all been taking place in the Middle East for the past three years. Arab nations are calling for introducing democracy as a political system, a system that must be enforced, by any means or price. The ticket to freedom from tyranny, poverty, exploitation, backwardness, political repression and every ailment that has struck the region since the Islamic days of glory should be the one and only “rule of the people”. Democracy: the magical potion.

    

      The beautiful thing about political thought is that it has been a developing science, growing and changing and taking on new ideals and beliefs in order to justify political practice and systems. Ever since the early Hellenistic civilization, followed by the Romans and the emergence of “modern” religious based empires, toppled by secular regimes and revolutions, political thinkers, scientists and philosophers have introduced in their books and their research the ideals of political organization. Who should rule? Why? How? How can money be distributed amongst citizens? What about communism? What to do with freedoms? All these questions have been asked and answered and criticized and doubted and asked again...this cycle of theory development ever stops, and all politically conscious and responsible countries and their political thinkers never stop wondering “how can we make it better”.

     

     What is interesting about this is intellectual activity is that it proved itself correct. Trial and error, experimentation, accurate and scientific observation and constant evaluation of political systems in the western world have all lead to the establishment of regimes that have proven to be efficient. Not to go deep into criteria of efficiency, but one must take quick look on economic performance, quality of life, life expectancy, level of satisfaction, environmental considerations and gender equality to realize that yes, the western world has actually learned about the correct formula to apply in order to achieve its goal of social, political and economic fulfilment. This part of the world did not ignore political thinkers, did not shy away from discarding political ideals that were revered by many but judged inappropriate, did not contend to the status quo and did not stop trying to link in the ground reality with the equivalent political origination and manifestation. I don’t believe the Arab world did, nor will do.

     Receiving a manual on “101 in political organization” to ensure democratic practice is the solution that many political activists have been indirectly campaigning for. “We want to democracy”, “let the people rule”, “decision of the majority”, “separation of powers”, “secularization of institutions” etc., are all admirable ideals… they did after all prove effective in many parts of the world. But are Arabs like the rest of the world? Do we have the same set of beliefs? Do we aspire to the same things that Europeans aspire for in terms of social and political issues? Is our social make u the same? Are our educational interests close to those of Americans? Are we as culturally prepared to take on radical leaps towards a Scandinavian governance system? Did Jean-Jacques Rousseau include us in his political studies?

     I believe that what Arabs need at the moment is a period of patience, contemplation and scientific investigation. We need to learn about the best political formula that would accommodate our social, religious, cultural and economic realities. We cannot expect to import an ideal and implement as it is, and then get frustrated when it did not work on the ground. What we need is a modest recognition of our limitations and an attempt to reinvent the wheel. Sometimes the wheel does need to be reinvented; especially when a certain vehicle has helped a nation to reach its destination in ease has led to chaos and disaster in others. Take Egypt as an example; political idealism of majority rule led to the election of political figures that have failed in all aspects of governmental reform.

   At this stage in our history, I suggest that we go back to the basics, delve into political thoughts since its beginning and come up with our own formula.  Socrates believed for his part that virtue is a field of knowledge that can be learned and taught. Perhaps we should approach virtue and its political manifestation as a serious field of study rather than a de facto issue…learn what virtue means for us as Arabs and how we can mould it into a system of life. His student, Plato, in his priceless book “The Republic” said that there is no hope for a state unless power is found in the hands of those who know, who know what state responsibilities and duties are and what education is deeded for citizens in order for them to carry out these tasks. Laws not based on tradition and customs, but those based on rational analysis and education…nothing should be written down on stone. Perhaps the words of this philosopher ring ever so true in our Arab reality…perhaps our laws are flawed and we need to restudy them. Then again, is that not what thousands have lost their lives for?