Arab leadership responsible for disunity among Muslim countries: King Abdullah

Arab leadership responsible for disunity among Muslim countries: King Abdullah



RIYADH: Saudi King Abdullah, whose country is a close US ally, on Wednesday slammed the "illegitimate foreign occupation" of Iraq in an opening speech to the annual Arab summit in Riyadh.

He said that the foreign forces may not be allowed to decide the future of Middle East, adding that Arab leadership is responsible for the disunity among the Arab world and Arab leaders are condemnable, as they could not get over their mutual differences.

"In beloved Iraq, blood is being shed among brothers in the shadow of an illegitimate foreign occupation, and ugly sectarianism threatens civil war," Abdullah said.

He also said that Arab nations, which are planning to revive a five-year-old Middle East peace plan at the summit, would not allow any foreign force to decide the future of the region.

In the past, Saudi leaders including Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal have often criticised US policy in Iraq but have never described its presence there as "illegitimate."

If Arab leaders recover trust in each other and regain their credibility, "the winds of hope will blow on the nation, and then, we will not allow forces from outside the region to determine the future of the region, and only the flag of Arabism will be raised on Arab soil," Abdullah said.

Arab foreign ministers meeting ahead of the summit agreed on Monday to call for an amendment of Iraq's 2005 constitution to give Sunni Arabs a greater share of power in the war-ravaged country and prevent its breakup.

But Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari responded by saying the government did not need a "diktat" from the Arabs on how to amend its constitution and boost national reconciliation.


‘We cannot sit with hands crossed on ME situation’: Musharraf



RIYADH: President Gen Pervez Musharraf said Wednesday that Pakistan is as much affected by the Middle East situation as any other Arab country.

Addressing Arab League Summit here, President Musharraf said that Arab and non-Arab are facing similar threats.

President Musharraf noted that under present state of affairs, we cannot sit with eyes closed and hands crossed.

He urged Muslim world to express greater unity and solidarity. On the occasion, the President Musharraf thanked Khadim Al-Harmain Al-Sharifain to invite him to Arab Summit.

the arabs will never learn. they are lazy, arrogant and dont care about the muslims at all. yes, the arabs are more responsible for the state of the muslim world than anyone else

The Arab leaders in the Middle East have got it easy - no one in the West questions their Dictorial/Autocratic regimes.

WHY?

Because the last thing the West wants is for DEMOCRACY to prevail in these regios.

Just look at what happened in Algeria when the 'wrong' party won the elections!!!

The Royal Families in the Mid East are the lowest of the low in my eyes - much lower than the likes of Bush/Blair et al.

Bunch of sell-outs that have put their own personal oil fuelled interest above their people.

Too late to speak out against the West - especially since they invited, sided , funded and encouraged the West and its 'Allies' to attack Iraq twice - and no doubt Iran next.

I have an Arab room mate. Great guy but very annoying. Honestly one of the most nationalistic type of people you can meet. All he can talk about how great his country is. He talks as if everything in the country is perfect (Lebanon) about how great their women are, the scenery and everything else...blah blah blah.

Argh it makes my blood boil!

While I do agree with what you said...there has to be a turning point. Could this be it? I don't recall the King of Saud ever making such harsh/critical statements towards the west. Lip Service to the Muslims? Maybe...let's hope it's not.

Bottom line is this...Muslims as a whole are sitting at the razors edge...Literally! It will only take ONE more terroristic action in the U.S...just a mere one incident and you can just imagine the onslaught the Americans will wage against us. It's not matter of IF..but when.

Again, they are right at our front door step and the very next terrorist act to happen in the U.S....trust me...they will not come knocking but come in with guns blazing.

Please. Let's not generalize. I have a close Lebanese friend and I think he is one of the best people I know. You know, one of those types of people that you're just glad that you know them?

Anyways, the point is, being Lebanese doesn't make a friend good or bad.

Sorry for being off topic a bit. Just had to get that it.

Well said. Good to see someone in my boat .

These Royal Families didn't existed before 19th century. The ancestors of these families are the ones who shook hands with the British during 1922, and fought against the Ottomans, the Last Caliphate Empire. The entire Ummah ( most north africa, persia, mid-east, eastern europe etc.) got seperated as a result of the collapse of Ottomans.

Well, Good to see them atleast speaking the truth. Better late than never.

now then may I ask King Abdullah to orderk USA to leave Saudi Arabia as "threat" of Saddam is no more ?

Abdullah was never really that fond of the US from what I've heard. But this is the first time hes actually showing something

Too many generalizations for my comfort...Yes SOME Arabs are bad but there are other shining examples of good amongst them as well.

I dont understand what gives Pakistanis the moral authority to judge Arabs and while we are at it - fellow Muslims.

We are happy with re-electing criminals such as Benazir and Sharif !

We must give credit to the King for making a bold statement such as this - he may not last long but he did say something good.

i find it ironic that the biggest US chamcha is talking about muslim unity...they do this all the time...spew some anti-US rhetoric to quell their population for a little while...its all lip service..."beloved iraq"...please...if you love your muslim countries so much how about you show some balls and actually do something...

the leash is still pretty tight...lets not kid ourselves...

I am not generalizing. I have tonnes of Arab friends from where I come from but I noticed these people in general are just very nationalistic people. Very proud of where they are from and forget they are muslims first before anything.

I recently went to some Arab football tournament and this is the feeling I just got (over 100 Arabs). I am not saying EVERY ARAB is like that but I notice this trait amongst many.

Infact I have a Lebanese friend who is completely against people calling him Lebanese. He gets mad whenever you say it and he says "I am Muslim!" He told me how this theory was used by the British (historical accuracy?) about divide and conquer. He claims that the British knew they could not take on the whole Muslim World so they created differences and they created this sense of Arab Nationalism over Imam. And this create differences amongst many of us, including India Pakistan (since a same strategy was employed).

Now I do not know how accurate he is historically, but he raises an interesting point how Arab nationalism destroyed our unity.

Your friend is right about the whole dividing Arab thing. Thats why there are many people who think Lebanon and Syria should still be one country.

"I am not generalizing. I have tonnes of Arab friends from where I come from but I noticed these people in general are just very nationalistic people."

don't know why 'generalizing' is almost considered a curse. we all generalize. accept. move on.

Arabs thought USA was thier daddy and will always protect them and they came crashing to the ground when thier own arab country was bombed AKA Iraq. Thanks GOD for sending BUSH to the world so that some sense came in these sell out 2 trillion dollars in american banks, gas gullzers, gutra walay low iQ idiots.