On 1st February 2011, about 7:45 am, on BBC Radio 4 Today Programme, there was a report about the changing situation in Egypt that said “The west is not wedded to Mubarak personally, only the stability he has brought to this troubled region. If another leader could be found who could guarantee peace with Israel and good relations with Washington, then President Obama would likely do business with him“.
Later in the day, discussing the rising clamour in Jordan, the BBC television news again discussed the matter of stability.
In truth, western colonial states still and will continue to prioritise their interest over the basic dignity of Muslims in the region. And their primary interest is Israel, their base and satellite occupation in the heart of the Arab world.
It is an essential precondition for them that Arab regimes act as the primary line of defence for Israel. And they will accept that they oppress, neglect and abuse their own populations for this purpose.
The price to ‘do business’ with Obama, or any western leader, cannot be measured in money – but it can be measured in lives.
Jan 16: Libyan dictator, Gaddafi jokingly dismissed the people’s uprising in Tunisia, saying “Bloodshed in Tunisia was for nothing.”
01 Feb: Libya declares “state of emergency & security alert”, cancels all Soccer Matches in fear of anti-government protests – according to Al-Jazeera’s Arabic-language news network.
29 Jan: King Abdullah ibn Abdul-Aziz Al Saud phone Egypt’s Mubarak to extend his support after welcoming Tunisia’s deposed Ben Ali, and to strongly condemn protesters in Egypt as “infiltrators” seeking to destabilize their country – state-run Saudi Press Agency reported. Thus, the King grossly misjudged the overwhelming anger and contempt the Egyptians have for their dictator.
01 Feb: Hosni Mubarak on state TV declared defeat and is unable to honour his earlier “pledge of assurance” to the Saudi King, that all was well in Egypt.
Meanwhile Washington, reeling from a major coronary, has made clear that other Muslim dictators should consider themselves on notice.