Human spirit retains hopes

Jan.1, 2008

Human spirit retains hopes

THE year 2007 was tumultous, particularly for the Middle East and Arab region where new conflicts emerged and old conflicts got worse, with seemingly no fair and just solution in the horizon. Perhaps the only trace of a positive sign was the launch of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations at the Annapolis conference after a seven-year hiatus although the pattern of Israel's intrasigence and stubborn rejectionist postures threaten to undermine the process at any point. In real terms, the fear is that Israel would simply stuff its version of "peace" down the Palestinian throat at some point. The best of optimists could even hope for reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah, but that means little when it comes to dealing with Israel and trying to wrench the legitimate Palestinian rights.
In Iraq, violence has ebbed a little, but the overriding feeling is that the relative calm is short-lived, with the US showing no intention of ending its occupation of the country; Washington is talking only about a possible "draw-down" of its military presence in Iraq and refusing to set a deadline for departure. And the ordinary people of oil-rich Iraq continue to suffer in poverty and insecurity.
In Iran, the revelation by the US intelligence community that Tehran abandoned a nuclear weaponisation programme in 2003 has not really made any difference to Washington's resolve to maintain pressure on the country and eventually take action towards realising the US objective of "regime change" there.
Tehran itself is not helping reduce tensions. It is maintaining its defiance and rhetoric and thumping its nose and daring the US to take whatever action it finds fit.
In Lebanon, the crisis over electing a new president is persisting, with none of the key internal and external players signalling any meaningful move to lift the logjam. Indeed, everyone seems to believe that any compromise to end the crisis would be a make-or-break move as far as their vested interests are concerned.
The Lebanese crisis is closely tied to the Israeli-Syrian conflict, and the US has renewed pressure on Damascus, refusing to entertain Syrian overtures for resumption of peace talks with Israel.
In Somalia, the new year sees a worsening conflict that is causing the worst humanitarian crisis ever, according to the UN.
In Sudan, every move to solve the crisis in Darfur faces pitfalls while the people in the troubled region continuing to suffer despite the international will and effort to help them.
In Algeria, extremists have launched their own brand of insurgency that might or might not have to do with the decade-old violent revolt that many thought had ended.
Wherever we look at the troublespots in the Middle East and Arab region and beyond it, be in Afghanistan, Sri Lanka or wherever, the situation is gloomy. And we have seen too many new years come and go to expect 2008 would be any different.
But the human spirit urges us to be optimistic. Let us hope that the New Year would usher in enough political will among world leaders that would make a real and positive difference to the poor and suffering people of this planet.

Happy New Year.