From the Principle of Integration to Alliance with al-Qaida

In their analysis of the Obama administration’s foreign policy, many international relations experts believed that after the unilateral, neo-conservative approach of the George Bush administration, the approach of the next administration would follow the principle of integration — that is, stabilization of international institutions and organizations, multilateralism and an emphasis on international law. Moving away from the “old and new Europe” discussion, supporting India’s permanent membership on the Security Council, forming the G-20 and signing the new START treaty between Russia and the United States have all been evidence of the dominance of liberal institutionalism over the doctrine of the State Department. However, many analysts neglected the fact that, since its inception, the main determinant of America’s foreign policy has been its own interests. George Washington, the first president of the United States, has been quoted as saying that there are neither friends nor enemies in foreign policy, there is only profit.* This is the same factor that led John F. Kennedy, the most liberal president in America’s history, to sign the law forming foreign assassination squads in the U.S. military and CIA.

The developments in Syria are another case in point, showing that liberal approaches and the principle of integration enter the American diplomatic system only when the vital interests of this country are not being discussed. For this very reason, after a decade of instigation by the United States in the Middle East, under the pretense of combating al-Qaida, today we are witnessing once again the alliance of al-Qaida and America, in Syrian politics. In taking concerted action against supporters of extremism and violence in the region, Washington politicians, who were unable to achieve their goals at the U.N. due to opposition from Moscow and Beijing, have chosen a policy of alliance with al-Qaida in order to advance their agenda. In a statement yesterday, the new leader of al-Qaida, Ayman al-Zawahiri, came out in support of the unrest in Syria, while Hillary Clinton emphasized that “America will never abandon the armed opposition against Bashar Assad.”** This again reflects the convergence of American foreign policy with al-Qaida.

America used this strategy one other time in the past: to confront the former Soviet Union in Afghanistan, and it witnessed the outcome on Sept. 11, 2001. Saudi Arabia, as an intellectual and financial source for the current of extremism and violence in the region, has called on Arab nations to use all of their facilities in order to combat Bashar Assad. Meanwhile, Libya’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ashour Bin Khayal, confirmed, during an interview with the Financial Times, the presence of Libyan fighters in Syria. He stated, “Actually, we cannot stop anyone from going to Syria. People want to go and fight with the Syrians; no one is going to prevent them.”

Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, which are heading the anti-Syrian coalition agreement, are following a new policy of alliance with al-Qaida by rearming and financing al-Qaida fighters for a new partnership among Arab youth in the region. This policy has been tested and will yield no result other than perpetuating violence in the region. The end of the violence in Syria — whether in the interest of the ruling regime or at its expense — will be the starting point of a revival of al-Qaida in the Middle East greater than ever before. Of course, this time it will be in Israel’s neighborhood, and much closer to the borders of Europe.

*Translator’s note: The author may have been referring to a quote from George Washington’s farewell address: “The great rule of conduct for us, in regard to foreign nations, is, in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connexion as possible.”

**Editor’s note: This quote, accurately translated, could not be verified.