Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Huthiran | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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There is no smoke without Iranian fire, but now Saudi Arabia has dispelled the smoke that was surrounding the Jabal Dokhan [Smoke Mountain] region from the fire which was originally ignited by Iran. However the Iranian fire continues to emit thick clouds of smoke which plague Iraq’s valleys, as well as the hilltops of southern Lebanon, these toxic fumes originate at the Qom [nuclear] facility, that as of now does not actually possess nuclear capabilities, but which has raised sectarian tensions [in the region]. As for the Arab and Islamic region, Iran’s mullahs are lying in wait for the opportunity to stoke their fires and plow the region into turmoil, as was seen by the [Huthi] attack on Saada, as well as the smoke emitted from the fire of [the Huthi attack on] Jabal Dokhan.

There is controversy surrounding the Huthi insurgency in Yemen, but there is national unity and fierce anger towards the Huthi aggression against Saudi Arabia and the attack on Jabal Dokhan which is located along the southern Saudi Arabian border. This is because when a foreign hand invades a free and honourable country there is no choice but to cut it off. For although the Saudis hate resorting to military solutions, perhaps they dislike something that is in fact good for them. Everybody is convinced that Iran’s claws must now be removed from Yemen following this threat to regional peace and after the Huthis sought to rip apart Yemeni unity which had made long strides away from sectarian strife. In fact the Huthis sought to fan these [Iranian] flames to engulf a country that is important to all Muslims across the world.

Therefore any issue or threat against this country [Saudi Arabia] must also by necessity affect all other Arab and Muslim countries, and cause them to put aside their differences and unite against the oppressive Iranian influence. And so it is up to all political, ideological and Islamic groups and others to move away from making vague statements and taking up positions in the [ideological] grey area [with regards to Iran] and instead each group should perform their role in accordance with their ability and position on the political map.

It is time for everybody to realize that were Iran to get a nuclear weapon, it would never use this – or even threaten to use this – against Israel or the US, as Tehran knows that if it were to do so it would face destruction. Rather the Qom nuclear facility is intended to target important countries in the region in order to impose Iranian hegemony [on the region] and extend Iran’s ideological agenda. Take note that the rate of Iran’s escalation and intervention in Arab and Islamic affairs has increased with every step closer that Tehran has taken towards building an integrated nuclear reactor. What is taking place in the Saada mountainside and along the slopes of Jabal Dokhan is nothing more than Iran implementing the next stage of its multifaceted five-year plan.

I have referred repeatedly to the fact that the Yemeni opposition – with all of its different [political] trends – made the initial mistake of failing to adopt a clear position towards the Huthi insurgency. They also chose the wrong time to confront the Yemeni government in an attempt to hold them accountable [for this]. The Huthi insurgency is a threat to the entire country, not just the ruling regime or the president. Therefore assigning blame to the government is a waste of time and effort, and in fact aids the Huthi insurgency and those who are behind it. Therefore the Yemeni government – and other Arab governments – must learn from this hard lesson. Arab governments must be aware that corruption, cronyism, and a certain group of people monopolizing senior positions at the expense of everybody else, does nothing more than thwart national unity, as is the case with Yemen today. The opposition – along with a large segment of society – must also understand that by confronting the danger that threatens the country as a whole, they are also confronting a government that is beset by corruption. Therefore regimes must work to get rid of corruption during the good times, so that the citizens stand up for them during the bad times.