The West has already scripted the ouster of the Libyan strongman Colonel Muammar Qadhafi. Coalition forces have given a severe blow to the Libyan Air Force and Army. Now, NATO has taken over the military command. Qadhafi’s one son has reportedly been killed. Qadhafi can be dethroned anytime. Qadhafi’s life and future is speculated in different ways. Going by Qadhafi’s own statement, he would like to die in Libya. How he meets his end, is to be seen. Would he decide to flee Libya and seek asylum abroad? If yes, will the NATO and the rebels allow him to escape the country in current circumstances? Or else, he will also become a victim of the occupant forces just like his son? Or will his end be like Saddam Hussein? Or would he prefer to commit suicide?
 However, probably the strongest person in the middle east till sometime back, Qadhafi is now uncertain about his future and struggling to remain safe. Now, he has invoked the same argument which had earlier been used by Osama Bin Laden, Aiman Al Zawahiri and also Saddam Hussein. Qadhafi has called the attack on Libya an ‘attack of Christianity on Islam’ and called upon the Muslims to become ‘united’ in this ‘Clash of Civilizations.’ But the Muslim countries are not ready to give an ear to this argument of Qadhafi. A major Arab nation, United Arab Emirates has in fact joined the coalition forces in order to oust Qadhafi. Here the question is why the UN Security Council feels the need for foreign intervention in such Muslim nations as Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan or Libya? How fair is it for the leaders of the Muslim world to repeat the ‘Clash of Civilisation’ rant like Laden? If the US is really the ‘enemy’ of Islam, then why not the Muslim countries close ranks against America? Whenever such dictators and terrorists find their end imminent, they start talking about the Muslims becoming united. No doubt, the US is an imperial power. It is struggling to maintain its dominance over the world. It is a part of the American foreign policy. Since the US is the largest oil consumer, therefore it needs to ensure its smooth and uninterrupted supply. This is the reason why the oil producing countries see the American interference from the prism of oil politics.
 The world understands that this aggression is not to oust a dictator and install a democracy; rather it is an effort by the West to control Libya’s oil. Notwithstanding the severe criticism around the world, the US neither changes its policy nor rethinks  its acts. Washington finds it in its national interest to ignore such criticism and move ahead with its plans. Interestingly, majority of Muslim countries can be seen supporting the US in achievement of its objectives. Thus, the warning of ‘American danger’ on Islam by a few Muslim leaders automatically becomes superfluous.
 In case of Libya too, the proposal for establishing a ‘no-fly zone’ was actively endorsed by the nations of the Arab League. Arab countries themselves paved the way for bombing of Libya by the foreign forces. And now, the UAE is hand-in-gloves with the coalition forces in occupation of Libya. Where is Clash of Civilisation, Islam Vs Christianity in this scene? The problem with despots like Saddam then and Qadhafi now is that when they kill and suppress their own people, they don’t find it against Islam.  When confronted with an impending fall, they find it convenient to invoke Islam, Jihad and Clash of Civilisation.
 What should the Muslim nations do in order to overcome such pathetic situation? Firstly, all of them should honestly read the writing on the wall which is evident from the people’s rebellion against the despots in these nations.
 Obama, in his address to the Muslim nations in Cairo, tried to put a full stop on the misconception of ‘Clash of Civilisation’ by starting his speech with Assalamu-Aleykum. But no visible progress has been made since. Though rebellions, revolutions and uprisings have been witnessed, the only reason being the dictators who are either cruel or indifferent to the people’s aspirations, either busy in consolidating their wealth or worried about transferring the power to their sons. In such circumstances, people’s anger is bound to erupt and it’s natural that foreign powers will lose no chance to exploit this anger.

Tanveer Jafri
Columnist
Ambala City (Haryana).
tanveerjafriamb@gmail.com, tanveerjafri1@gmail.com,tanveerjafri58@gmail.com)

Lastupdate on : Mon, 28 Mar 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 28 Mar 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 29 Mar 2011 00:00:00 IST