Egypt in the lap of Muslim Brotherhood

While the United Sates seem adamant at maintaining its hegemony as it is often termed the sole surviving super power. Its focus remains oil producing countries, the most obvious being Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Syria, Egypt and many more.

The recent uprising in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) was funded and even arms were supplied by the United States. Other ongoing conflicts are mostly related to Israel with Hamas, Lebanon and Turkey. Memories of attack on Turkish flotilla and killing of Hamas top notches in UAE still haunt.

Failure to tame Iran after more than three decades of economic sanctions is making both the United States and Israel desperate as well as jittery. Many failed attempts to intimidate Iran have led to even stringer sanctions. Israel’s threat that it reserves the right to attack Iran irrespective of the outcome of 5+1 negotiations upsets countries located in close vicinity.

If Iran was a headache the outcome of election in Egypt has prompted The United States and Israel to render the newly elected president ‘feeble’ by retaining power with the general who have been running the country. Winning of majority votes by Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsi has suddenly shifted focus to Egypt and away from Iran. Hosni Mubarak outset was driven by decades old saying, ‘Eliminate the agent when he becomes redundant’. He was removed after three decades to install another obedient partner, who could also keep Israel happy.

UK Foreign Secretary William Hague also congratulated Morsi, saying it marked "An historic moment for Egypt". A White House statement said: "We believe it is essential for the Egyptian government to continue to fulfil Egypt's role as a pillar of regional peace, security and stability. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he hoped the long-standing peace treaty between the two countries would continue.

The other reports says The Islamists' rise to power in Egypt will send shockwaves through the courts and palaces of conservative Arab kings and presidents who have tried for decades to put the lid on political Islam. But foremost among Egypt's neighbors who watched the brotherhood's success with increasing alarm is Israel. It was the first Arab state to sign a peace treaty with Israel and the brotherhood has traditionally been vehemently opposed to that.

According to another report, it also remains uncertain whether the low-key, little-known Morsi can serve as a unifying figure in a nation that has splintered politically since the revolution, with many Egyptians fearful that Islamic leadership will impose strict moral codes or try to dominate politics. His victory will serve as an inspiration for Islamist movements across the region; it is likely to be seen as a potential threat for Israel, which has regarded Egypt as a linchpin of Middle East peace through their 35-year-old treaty.

According to Dr Boris Dolgov, a leading expert at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, “Egypt is split down the middle”. Half of its people, mostly the more conservative and less educated folk living in underdeveloped outlying provinces, side with the Islamist principles of Mohamed Morsi. The other half, which mostly consists of educated city dwellers, supports the secularist principles of Ahmed Shafiq, the last prime minister under Hosni Mubarak.

Dolgov has also warned that jubilation of Morsi’s followers can be short-lived. He said “Indeed, the governing Military Council has already curtailed the powers of the President by assuming sweeping powers over fiscal matters and lawmaking. The military will be the ruler, not Morsi. As soon as his supporters realize this, they will start protesting against the governing Generals.”

US – The biggest Arm Seller

Civilian Suffurings in Syria

I am one of the millions of people who fail to understand why conflicts are created and allowed to grow that often lead to anarchy, civil war and war among the countries.

One of the hypotheses is that when conflicts between rulers and being ruled grow the story starts with peaceful demonstration, when often get violent and soon it becomes ‘free for all’.

Lately, the uprising in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has become a thorn as super powers are taking active part in dethroning or consolidating the positions of rulers. Whatever is happening in Bahrain is being condoned but arms and funds are being supplied to rebel groups in Syria, the same was done in Libya in the recent past. Earlier efforts were made to develop rebel groups in Iran.

One of the conspiracy theories is proxy wars of the super powers is fought by smaller countries, the most notorious being Afghanistan. The United States prepared Taliban to defeat USSR and the war continued for nearly a decade because warlords started claim in booty.

According to one of the latest reports during 2012 the United States will make a record sale of armaments to the world but Saudi Arabia has emerged the biggest buyer. Is this the preamble of another attack on Iran? People still have in their memories that when Iraq attached Iran, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia supported his war mania.

I have read somewhere a quote that over the next five years, seven Muslim countries may come under attack, the most probable top two being Pakistan and Iran. The saga is likely to start once withdrawal of Nato solider from Afghanistan starts in 2014. It is believed that military hardware will be kept in Afghanistan and can be used against these two countries.

Pakistan Must Opt for Oil for Food

While the United States continues to say that Iran is busy in production of nuclear warheads, it hasn’t come up with any credible proof. Many doubt it is a hoax call like presence of Osama in Afghanistan and Iraq busy in production of weapons of mass destruction.

The growing perception is the United States considers Iran a hurdle in creation of its hegemony in the region, the major supply of crude oil.

There is also growing feeling among Pakistanis that due to the US pressure the ruling junta the country had already stopped buying oil from Iran, construction of Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline being delayed and even supply of wheat in exchange for being put on hold. Even in the worst scenario ‘oil for food’ program was followed in Iraq.

The United States has exempted seven countries, 10 member countries of European Union and no mention has been made of China.

The US fully aware that Pakistan’s GDP growth is being pegged due to looming energy crisis and the country needs low cost energy products immediately. However, Pakistan is not being allowed crude oil, gas and electricity from Iran.

The time has come Pakistanis should assert themselves and convince the US that buying energy products from Iran bodes well for Pakistan. If India can pay Iran in Rupee, Pakistan should be allowed to buy energy products from Iran against supply of wheat.