In Mideast, Anger and Solidarity

As the US started another round of military campaign in Iraq to put down insurgents, Arabs across the region are calling for stronger Muslim solidarity against the Anglo-American-led occupation, some even comparing the American operation in Iraq with Israel's actions against Palestine in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Leading Arab newspapers and TV programs in the region, including some official media sources in countries like Egypt, have over the past week aired or reported on the US bombing of a mosque in Fallujah, Iraq, where the heaviest fighting took place since the US occupied the country. Arab commentators and journalists alike have praised Iraqi insurgents and the emerging anti-American alliance between the Shiites and Sunnis. To many Arabs, including some middle-class professionals, one cannot answer back to the US with logic because there is "no logic to what the US is doing," nor can one fight back because no one can fight "the tyranny of the Americans." While the people are largely angry towards the US, governments in the region, however, seem reluctant to go against the American will. The people can just let their anger grow stronger – although it might not come to the surface all that often, "it will make many martyrs and lead to more and more demonstrations," says a Jordanian engineer, quoted in the article. – YaleGlobal