Al-Jazeera.net is conducting an interesting survey. In light of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates’ recent decision to name ambassadors to Iraq, the network's website is asking for feedback from its viewers on the issue.
While sending ambassadors to a fellow Arab nation may not seem controversial at first, the questions being asked in the survey imply that many may view this move by the two Gulf states as implicitly condoning the occupation of Iraq, as well as obligating other Arab countries to follow their lead.
For example, it asks “Is it necessary for the Arab states to follow suit with the two countries?, and, “Do you think that naming ambassadors to Baghdad grants legitimacy to the Occupation there?”.
One respondent from the UAE, identifying himself as an academic political figure, condones his country's move, pointing to the importance of the Arab countries to establish their agenda in Iraq in the face of a competing Iranian one. He sees the UAE as opening the door for this process to take place.
Another, identifying himself as a political analyst from Egypt, claims that the US is applying pressure on the Arab states to undergo these steps in order to legitimize its presence in the country, while at the same time he acknowledges that such action by the Arab states may send a message of solidarity.
Meanwhile, a Syrian author and journalist states that establishing diplomatic ties in Iraq should be considered a national duty for the Arab states, adding that diplomatic representation is a positive step towards a safer political/security situation there.
While responses to the survey are not yet many, they are extensive and provide some insight into how Arabs perceive Iraq as a regional issue. Despite the stigma of the occupation and alleged US pressure, there may be a general understanding that the Arab states need to become more involved in Iraq's future. Given the prospect of increased Iranian influence in Iraq, the need for an increased Arab presence in Iraq may be taking on strategic importance as well for many of the Arab states, especially those in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
