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History of wasted Arab power spent on unhelpful causes

Published May 8th, 2011 - 12:40 GMT

Self-defeating strategies and stunts by Arab nations that cost the Arab world more in damages not to mention negative PR than the so-called causes undertaken, that in themselves probably do not serve the interests of the people. Nor do these side-causes for that matter promote any arguably wider Arab Cause, such as Palestine.

The following Arab countries share a habit of getting embroiled in either domestic or satellite external conflicts that do not necessarily succeed nor advance the cause intended, much less the country's own pressing issues. Yet it's not as though these specific countries can really afford wasted energies with so many Arab or Muslim countries mired in occupation (often following such meddling and clumsy interventions that only escalate existing conflicts) and no shortage of causes to attend to.  What follows is a survey of examples of such bungled and misguided attempts to achieve domination, only to end up weakened, undermined and set back for years, as say Iraq no thanks to the not- so-good works of its own and other Arab leaders' dodgy maneuvers.

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Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait: And by doing so, he alienated the world and quite shot himself in the foot, it could be said. Power he could have been spending on really 'saving' Palestine or some such more shared 'Arab cause'.

Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait: And by doing so, he alienated the world and quite shot himself in the foot, it could be said. Power he could have been spending on really 'saving' Palestine or some such more shared 'Arab cause'.

Gaddafi- intervened in a civil war in Chad, expended his energy on his private ambition to claim the northernmost part of Chad as part of Libya (not dissimilar to Saddam's Kuwait bid); energy that could have been better spent on preventing his own civil war.

Gaddafi- intervened in a civil war in Chad, expended his energy on his private ambition to claim the northernmost part of Chad as part of Libya (not dissimilar to Saddam's Kuwait bid); energy that could have been better spent on preventing his own civil war.

Syria's Hafez al-Assad occupied Lebanon, which only marred relations between the two, and fueled the already messy internal politics of Lebanon; rather than consolidating a unified front against 'enemies' as Israel. It ended in an unceremonious retreat in response to Lebanese public opinion.

Syria's Hafez al-Assad occupied Lebanon, which only marred relations between the two, and fueled the already messy internal politics of Lebanon; rather than consolidating a unified front against 'enemies' as Israel. It ended in an unceremonious retreat in response to Lebanese public opinion.

Sudan – civil war in Darfur and the South, with the Sudanese government accountable for oppressing non-Arab Sudanese in favor of Sudanese Arabs. (This only undermined national power or indeed Arab pride, by offering the West an opportunity to intervene and divide Sudan)

Sudan – civil war in Darfur and the South, with the Sudanese government accountable for oppressing non-Arab Sudanese in favor of Sudanese Arabs. (This only undermined national power or indeed Arab pride, by offering the West an opportunity to intervene and divide Sudan)

Egyptian war in Yemen: Abdel Nasser intervened in Yemen's Civil War- In 1962, Nasser sent Egyptian troops to assist a Yemeni coup to oust their royal family. More than 55,000 Egyptian troops were engaged in Yemen, in what was ultimately another losing cause in a series of Nasser losses.

Egyptian war in Yemen: Abdel Nasser intervened in Yemen's Civil War- In 1962, Nasser sent Egyptian troops to assist a Yemeni coup to oust their royal family. More than 55,000 Egyptian troops were engaged in Yemen, in what was ultimately another losing cause in a series of Nasser losses.

Naher al-Bared in Lebanon- another Arab domestic conflict that consumed a lot of life and military resources, no thanks to Fateh al-Islam.

Naher al-Bared in Lebanon- another Arab domestic conflict that consumed a lot of life and military resources, no thanks to Fateh al-Islam.

Following Spain's withdrawal from Western Sahara, Morocco started a campaign to annex Western Sahara and consequently sustained heavy losses in a drawn out conflict 1975-1991. The issue has not been resolved to this day.

Following Spain's withdrawal from Western Sahara, Morocco started a campaign to annex Western Sahara and consequently sustained heavy losses in a drawn out conflict 1975-1991. The issue has not been resolved to this day.

The OBL command center compound, shaped like Palestine- a coincidence? "America will not be able to dream of security until we live in security in Palestine" were the last audio-recorded ominous words OBL left for Obama (his killer). A life's energy spent on causes that hardly 'secured' Palestine.

The OBL command center compound, shaped like Palestine- a coincidence? "America will not be able to dream of security until we live in security in Palestine" were the last audio-recorded ominous words OBL left for Obama (his killer). A life's energy spent on causes that hardly 'secured' Palestine.

Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait: And by doing so, he alienated the world and quite shot himself in the foot, it could be said. Power he could have been spending on really 'saving' Palestine or some such more shared 'Arab cause'.
Gaddafi- intervened in a civil war in Chad, expended his energy on his private ambition to claim the northernmost part of Chad as part of Libya (not dissimilar to Saddam's Kuwait bid); energy that could have been better spent on preventing his own civil war.
Syria's Hafez al-Assad occupied Lebanon, which only marred relations between the two, and fueled the already messy internal politics of Lebanon; rather than consolidating a unified front against 'enemies' as Israel. It ended in an unceremonious retreat in response to Lebanese public opinion.
Sudan – civil war in Darfur and the South, with the Sudanese government accountable for oppressing non-Arab Sudanese in favor of Sudanese Arabs. (This only undermined national power or indeed Arab pride, by offering the West an opportunity to intervene and divide Sudan)
Egyptian war in Yemen: Abdel Nasser intervened in Yemen's Civil War- In 1962, Nasser sent Egyptian troops to assist a Yemeni coup to oust their royal family. More than 55,000 Egyptian troops were engaged in Yemen, in what was ultimately another losing cause in a series of Nasser losses.
Naher al-Bared in Lebanon- another Arab domestic conflict that consumed a lot of life and military resources, no thanks to Fateh al-Islam.
Following Spain's withdrawal from Western Sahara, Morocco started a campaign to annex Western Sahara and consequently sustained heavy losses in a drawn out conflict 1975-1991. The issue has not been resolved to this day.
The OBL command center compound, shaped like Palestine- a coincidence? "America will not be able to dream of security until we live in security in Palestine" were the last audio-recorded ominous words OBL left for Obama (his killer). A life's energy spent on causes that hardly 'secured' Palestine.
Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait: And by doing so, he alienated the world and quite shot himself in the foot, it could be said. Power he could have been spending on really 'saving' Palestine or some such more shared 'Arab cause'.
Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait: And by doing so, he alienated the world and quite shot himself in the foot, it could be said. Power he could have been spending on really 'saving' Palestine or some such more shared 'Arab cause'.
Gaddafi- intervened in a civil war in Chad, expended his energy on his private ambition to claim the northernmost part of Chad as part of Libya (not dissimilar to Saddam's Kuwait bid); energy that could have been better spent on preventing his own civil war.
Gaddafi- intervened in a civil war in Chad, expended his energy on his private ambition to claim the northernmost part of Chad as part of Libya (not dissimilar to Saddam's Kuwait bid); energy that could have been better spent on preventing his own civil war.
Syria's Hafez al-Assad occupied Lebanon, which only marred relations between the two, and fueled the already messy internal politics of Lebanon; rather than consolidating a unified front against 'enemies' as Israel. It ended in an unceremonious retreat in response to Lebanese public opinion.
Syria's Hafez al-Assad occupied Lebanon, which only marred relations between the two, and fueled the already messy internal politics of Lebanon; rather than consolidating a unified front against 'enemies' as Israel. It ended in an unceremonious retreat in response to Lebanese public opinion.
Sudan – civil war in Darfur and the South, with the Sudanese government accountable for oppressing non-Arab Sudanese in favor of Sudanese Arabs. (This only undermined national power or indeed Arab pride, by offering the West an opportunity to intervene and divide Sudan)
Sudan – civil war in Darfur and the South, with the Sudanese government accountable for oppressing non-Arab Sudanese in favor of Sudanese Arabs. (This only undermined national power or indeed Arab pride, by offering the West an opportunity to intervene and divide Sudan)
Egyptian war in Yemen: Abdel Nasser intervened in Yemen's Civil War- In 1962, Nasser sent Egyptian troops to assist a Yemeni coup to oust their royal family. More than 55,000 Egyptian troops were engaged in Yemen, in what was ultimately another losing cause in a series of Nasser losses.
Egyptian war in Yemen: Abdel Nasser intervened in Yemen's Civil War- In 1962, Nasser sent Egyptian troops to assist a Yemeni coup to oust their royal family. More than 55,000 Egyptian troops were engaged in Yemen, in what was ultimately another losing cause in a series of Nasser losses.
Naher al-Bared in Lebanon- another Arab domestic conflict that consumed a lot of life and military resources, no thanks to Fateh al-Islam.
Naher al-Bared in Lebanon- another Arab domestic conflict that consumed a lot of life and military resources, no thanks to Fateh al-Islam.
Following Spain's withdrawal from Western Sahara, Morocco started a campaign to annex Western Sahara and consequently sustained heavy losses in a drawn out conflict 1975-1991. The issue has not been resolved to this day.
Following Spain's withdrawal from Western Sahara, Morocco started a campaign to annex Western Sahara and consequently sustained heavy losses in a drawn out conflict 1975-1991. The issue has not been resolved to this day.
The OBL command center compound, shaped like Palestine- a coincidence? "America will not be able to dream of security until we live in security in Palestine" were the last audio-recorded ominous words OBL left for Obama (his killer). A life's energy spent on causes that hardly 'secured' Palestine.
The OBL command center compound, shaped like Palestine- a coincidence? "America will not be able to dream of security until we live in security in Palestine" were the last audio-recorded ominous words OBL left for Obama (his killer). A life's energy spent on causes that hardly 'secured' Palestine.

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