Evening star., 1956-11-25
MLDEAST TEASER
Can Nosser Unite the Arabs?

tation, toward the divided world Of
the Soviets and the West also exist
among the Arab states. Iraq is pro-
West and is member of the Bagh-
dad Pact. For joining the pact she
was held up as bad example to
the Arab world by the Cairo Radio
OF Col. Nasser. Egypt and Syria
show certain enthusiasm for any
Russian efforts which weaken the
influence of the former colonial
powers in the area. Saudi Arabia is
not pro-Western, but. on religious
grounds. is possibly the most anti
Communist state in the world.
The Saudis already feel that
Egypt is too chummy with Moscow
and some Of King Ibn Saud's mas
sive oil revenues are being used to
bring his viewpoint to the other
Arab leaders. If Col. Nasser drifts
further toward Russia, his dream
of united Arab world would have
to exclude Saudi Arabia and the
Yemen. Lebanon shows mixed
reaction among its responsible citi-
zens to the East-West struggle.
Incidents Show Crooks
There have been three incidents
in the past weeks of crisis which
showed there are serious cracks
beneath the surface of Arab unity
In Beirut rioting broke out last
week after the close of the Arab
League conference. The rioting was
directed against President Glamour
of Lebanon. He had united with
the Iraq and Saudi representatives
at the conference. They succeeded
in getting a moderate resolution ap-
proved by the meeting and in stav-
ing off the attempt of Egypt and
Syria to have the Arab League call
for Russian military help.
Inter-Arab rivalries were exposed
when Jordanians cut the old oil
pipeline which runs from the Iraqi
oilfields to the Israeli port of Haifa.
The line was supposed to have been
empty since 1948, but when it was
punctured fires occurred The Sy-
rian press quickly accused Iraq Of
double-dealing. The Jordanian gov
ernment came to their rescue with
an explanation that the severed oil
lines were in low-lying areas which
had not been fully drained in 1948.
A final incident between pro-
Egyptian Syria and pro-Western
Iraq occurred last week when the
foreign minister of Syria went on
record with this statement: "The
domination Of Syria is ultimately
the intention of Iraq. But I be-.
lieve they will fail"
A Lucky Hero Now
While Arab nations to the north
and east are divided on accepting
Col. Nasser as the leader of Pan
Arab forces, he is unquestionably
the hero of the hour to the Arabs
of North Africa who are still strug-
Cling to free themselves from
French colonial rule. That Col. Mas
ser has rebuffed the colonial power
with whom they are currently
struggling has enhanced his repu-
tation from Morocco to Tunis.
The major and almost the only
unifying force in the Arab states
today is fear Of Israel. The Arab
concept is that Egypt should pro-
vide protection to the weaker ma
tions. If the United Nations should
take effective long-term action to
bring peace to the Israel-Arab
borders. then Egyptian leadership
in general and Col. Nasser's leader
ship IN particular may be consid-
cred less important in many parts
Of the Arab world.
Within Egypt, Col. Nasser rules
as q dictator. He has alienated the
young jntellectuals by outlawing all
political activity. He has alienated
the landowners by breaking up the
large estates. He has alienated re-
ngious zealots by outlawing the
Moslem Brotherhood and hanging
some Of It's leaders.
His greatest good fortune, both
in Egypt and in the Arab world,
was 10 be attacked by England and
France. The Anglo-French at
tack provided him with the excuse
for his military defeat In the Sinai
Peninsula, and enabled him 70
make a diplomatic triumph out Of
a military defeat. Despite all this,
however. Col. Nasser still faces an
almost impossible task in organiz-
ing a united Arab bloc.
A highly-plseed Arab diplomat
remarked only last week 10 q West
ern visitor: 1T Ia regrettable that
Britain and France have managed
10 make q hero Of Nasser. Left 70
themselves. the Arab nations would
get rid Of him IN due time"