“In the days to come, there will be large scale changes in the entire world. Oil reserves are there only in a few countries. Veteran Politicians are paving the way for the youngsters or the young leaders themselves are carving their own way.”
Mr. John B. Alterman, Director of Center for strategic and International Studies in America, expressed these thoughts. He was talking to a group selected journalists on the occasion of his recent visit to Hyderabad.
Continuing his conversation, he told that America itself is worried about its financial crises. Not only on Iran, it won’t attack any country. It will be possible to a greater extent.
He told that he realizes that in the next six months, there won’t be any attack on Iran. Even if there is any such attack on Iran, America won’t initiate it. He told that if war starts, it would be due to the attitude of Iran itself.
When asked that America may not initiate a war against Iran but it might adopt the policy, which was adopted in Libya and Egypt, which provides scope for leading from behind. In such a situation, what would you say?
He told that Iran and Israel are such issues about which America is thinking seriously. If the war starts, he said he would call it an accidental war.
John Alterman told that it is not the issue of Iran, it is the issue of Arab and the Persian Gulf. Banking on many Arab countries, he says that America has the support of many Arab leaders to resolve this issue.
He told that on the occasion of recently held Makha Conference, King Abdullah had specially invited Mr. Ahmedi Nejad, President of Iran. He had told in that Conference that America doesn’t beat us calling us Saudis or Iranis, it beats us in the name of Muslims. All of us should remember that we should present our problems jointly as Muslim Ummah and also find out their solutions.
Mr. Alterman concentrated his conversation more on energy sector. He told that the security of energy is the greatest problem, which would shake the entire world.
It will especially affect the developing countries very badly. He told that the crisis in Syria, spread of the influence of Ikhwanul-Muslimmen (Muslims’ brotherhood), preparation of nuclear weapons by Iran is the issues, which are brothering America to a large extent. Although suspicious have been expressed that Iran is producing nuclear weapons, he says that at present, Iran doesn’t have nuclear weapons but if there is trouble to Iran, in future, it would accelerate its capabilities and it would soon prepare nuclear weapons. He declared that Arab region is an uncertain territory.
When asked what steps have America taken to strengthen Arab relations or Arab-American relations after Mr. Obama’s Egypt visit which could be termed as successful? He told that the intention of Mr. Obama was very good but the obstacles of American foreign policy prevented it to move away from these obstacles.
He also told it is still a challenge for America to know whether the stand it had taken was right or wrong. It will only be revealed if America introspects itself.
The formulations of many strategies and policies forced America to take certain decisions, which seem to be right for some and wrong for others.
He termed Saudi Arabia as a friend worth deserving pride and on the other hand, he termed Iran as a country, which influence the policies and economy of America. He told that the leadership of Saudi Arabia dates back to 80 years. It is likely that in the next few years, the young leaders might influence there. Only then, something could be said about the changes there. In Iran also, elections are going to be held next year. It is not known what is going to happen there. It is to be seen who will be the next President.
About the 1979 resolution of Iran, Mr. Alterman told that Iran linked polities with religion. He termed Saudi Arabia as a country, which has influence on the Muslims of the world.
He told that Govt. of America doesn’t take interest only to safeguard its interests but America wants that there should be peace, tranquility and brotherhood in the entire world.
Citing the example of Iraq, he told that although America fought the war against Iraq but after the fall of Saddam Hussain, more Chinese companies are extracting oil when compared to American companies.
He told that Israel is the special ally of America in the Middle East. It can’t be compared with any other country.
Citing another reason for America’s interest, he told that America is very less dependent on the Middle East for oil but the economy of most of its allies is dependent on the oil extracted from the Middle East.
He clarified that after the 9/11 incident, America had made security arrangements for the mosques in America so that no violence takes place against the Muslims but the Christian and Jewish organizations come forward to ensure their security. America wants to make its foreign policy for the Middle East more effective. For this, it is necessary for it to understand the policies of south Asia and East Asia.
He termed Indian as a developing country and said that America doesn’t want India to fall in line with America but both these countries could be helpful for each other. He told that India buys oil from Iran in large quantities but in the event of war, Indian economy will be affected very badly.
(Amer Ali Khan can be reached at ameralikhan@msn.com)