Kevin Sullivan

Tell Me if This Sounds Like a Good Idea

Posted by Kevin Sullivan under Uncategorized

Representatives from Arab states getting assassinated, taken hostage, or, constantly being deployed and withdrawn in diplomatic Kabuki fashion?  That’s what I fear would happen, were the Arab states to build embassies in Iraq right now.  Secretary Rice seems to disagree:

“What Iraq now needs most and what I will push for in Kuwait is greater support from its neighbors,” Rice said. “That includes establishing embassies in Baghdad and exchanging ambassadors.”

Iraq’s Sunni Arab neighbors, notably Saudi Arabia, have so far resisted U.S. pressure to open embassies in Baghdad, which Washington argues would bolster the Shi’ite-led government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and help counter the influence of neighboring Shi’ite Iran.

Rice said Iraq should be “fully reincorporated” into the Arab world by its neighbors, who have been suspicious of Maliki’s government and its ties with Iran.

Iraq is an Arab nation while Iran’s roots are Persian. Both countries, however, have majority Shi’ite populations.

“What they need to do is confirm and work for Iraq’s Arab identity,” she said. “That in and of itself will begin to shield (Iraq) from influences of Iran that are nefarious influences,” Rice said at a news conference.

She also said Iraq’s Arab neighbors could help encourage the Sunni minority to participate more fully in the political process in Iraq and to offer Baghdad much-needed debt relief, which has been slow in coming.

I agree with all of this, in theory.  But I continue to be astounded by the lack of cultural sensitivity that comes from State on these issues of cultural diplomacy.  While I think a stronger Arab investment in Iraq would be great, we should take into consideration the fact that Sunnis oppress Shias all over the Middle East, and the perception that Iraqi Sunnis and the GCC states are in bed with the United States is already quite pervasive.  These embassies and their respective ambassadors would likely become immediate targets.

Now, if the GCC states really want to weaken Iran’s position in the region, they could find a way to lower gas and oil prices (especially the former) and make the market more competitive.  I doubt we’ll see that happen anytime soon.