Has war hardened Arab opinion?

Has war hardened Arab opinion?

With the war in Iraq now entering a decisive stage, much of the Arab world has become united in its opposition to the US-led invasion.

Neighbouring Gulf states, including Syria, Iran and Jordan, have seen a surge in support among Arabs for Iraqi resistance and a rise in protests against what many see as their governments' collaboration with US aggression.

Some Arab leaders have chosen to break their silence on the conflict. Jordan's King Abdullah spoke out against the war for the first time when he "strongly condemned" civilian casualties caused by the conflict.

Despite risking isolation, some states and sections of the Arab community have supported the war, notably neighbouring Kuwait, Iraqi exiles abroad, and some in Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Do you think war has polarised Arab attitudes? What impact will it have on future relations between Arab nations and the West?

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

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Your reaction

Their actions may prove to be very short-sighted

Andy, UK

When countries like Egypt and Jordan start speaking out against the US as strongly as they have, we should all heed this as a warning. The US and her allies are not making any friends in the Arab/Muslim world, and their actions may prove to be very short-sighted and could spell trouble for years to come.
Andy, UK

This war has set back the cause of peace for 50 years. Not only has it polarised Arab opinions but world opinion as well. I've been talking to relatives in the USA. All I can say is that extreme nationalism is on the rise there, the same monstrous tragedy of human capability that fed fire and blood into the minds of countless warmongers before Bush, and that will feed the hearts of countless terrorists after. All we can do is just remember when again the missiles rain on innocents the promises that were made to us the last time and broken. I will not forget this.
Brian, Ireland

As an Arab, I do not think the US-led coalition is for the good of the Arabs. How do they expect the world to believe them if they are supporting Israel (by providing financial assistance and vetoes) in killing the Palestinians? They could have easily got Saddam with a few bullets and spared the lives of all the victims so far. The war has definitely hardened the Arab opinion against both the US and UK. They are our enemies and the Arabs will never forget what they have done. Arab babies are fed revenge mixed with their mom's milk. Why else do you think the Palestinians are still fighting Israel after so many years? We Arabs are proud people and we have dignity and honour and we will never let our women and children down.
Abdullah Al-Otaibi, Saudi Arabia

I think Arab opinion was hardened soon after the Arab and other impartial media showed the badly wounded civilians and those killed by US and UK forces. This war was supposed to be quick and clean, but when Arabs could not see that promise fulfilled they started to see it as allies killing their Arab brothers and sisters. Arab opinion can only change if Bush and Blair show their seriousness of ending the Israeli occupation of Palestine.
Odayleh Soomaal, Hargeisa, Somaliland

This will leave an indelible mark in the minds of the Arabs

Tikley da Abiem, Sudan

No. Arab feelings have always been stiff towards the West. September 11 was one such gush of popular sentiment. The West must respond equally strongly if they are to command the respect of the Arab world. This sounds rather bellicose, but as a student of the Arab culture, I know this will leave an indelible mark in the minds of the Arabs. Arabs hate the meek and the submissive.
Tikley da Abiem, Sudan

I continue to oppose Osama Bin Laden and l also agree that Saddam is an evil man. However now l feel that the American and British forces that took part in this unilateral and arrogant war are no better than the "evil" they say they are trying to rid the world of. A few sweets and playing football with the locals does not make them any less an invading force when there were other and better choices. Of course that other choice would not assure that American companies would reap the economic windfall that one cannot help feeling is the real motive for going to war.
Halim, Brunei

I think that Arabs and Muslims are beginning to see this war as a racist war directed against Muslims, and I think they may be right. I recently read a report from a front line marine unit that made me realise just how much many Americans hate the Muslims. They hate the ones that oppose them and look down at the ones that are too weak to oppose them. They feel threatened by Muslims because of 9/11 and they've let their emotions take control. Nik, USA
Nik, USA

I think we must ask ourselves what have been the guiding forces swaying Arab opinion and how credible are these sources? Do those speaking for the Arab people represent the majority? Many in the Arab world, women in particular, haven't been living in freedom, and Islamic fundamentalism and radicalism seem to be a large problem in the Middle-East that threatens the very existence and stability of the ruling governments in the region.
JBO, Philippines

Ignorance and denial are killers

James R Johnson, USA

Coalition forces are feeding starving people and playing soccer with the locals, not decimating important sites and shooting women and children. Is any of this getting through to the Arab world? We are fighting a war in which the Iraqi government's main weapon is maximizing civilian casualties. Is there any Arab that doesn't laugh out loud every time the Iraqi information minister opens his mouth? Anger is one thing, but ignorance and denial are killers.
James R Johnson, USA

It is not only the Arabs but peoples of many nations who are disillusioned and disturbed with the US and UK and see this war as a political manoeuvre by these two countries at the cost of diplomacy, consensus and hundreds of innocent lives. This conflict is only to assert the bigwigs' control over the region so they can have an economic advantage. The Middle East, Asia and Europe should start uniting now and work together to make the region strong and healthy.
R S Sundar, India

Arab media has shaped the mood of much Arab opinion in the world, and even touched on Islamic sentiments to support Saddam's regime. But now that Saddam's regime is nearing its end, Arab media, both TV and newspapers, have started to change their tone and speak about, or even show, some of the agonies of the Iraqi people over the last 35 years of the regime's rule. Some still use loaded language to raise doubts about even the latest discovery of hundreds of human remains in Basra, aiming at deceiving the Arab masses to stand behind Saddam and his people and not help the Iraqi people. One day Arabs will have free media that will help them make up their minds and not manipulate emotions to formulate opinion.
Ali Alsayegh, Kuwait

I think the trust of the Arabs may be gone for a while

Mikairi, Uganda

Many Arabs, like other peace-loving people, know the departure of Saddam would be a most desirable thing. The problem is the Western tactics, for instance using UN machinery to establish the extent of the Iraqi army weakness to enable a comfortable attack. I think the trust of the Arabs may be gone for a while.
Mikairi, Uganda

Since the creation of the state of Israel in 1948, Arab opinion of the West has hardened. This new adventure in Iraq, even if done in good faith but without UN approval, will always be looked upon with scepticism and distrust. If the US/UK forces succeed in bringing peace and democracy to Iraq and then turn a blind eye towards the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, the Arabs will never forgive them.
Nasser, Jordan

I feel that this war has hardened not only Arab opinion, but most everybody's opinion. I think that's because there is a widespread attitude in people that "my opinion is reasonable enough to be acceptable to all, and if others don't agree there surely must be something wrong with them." But don't all religions who adore the one and only creator profess that all people are brothers and sisters because God is everybody's closest relative? It seems to me that from this it must follow that what most needs be hardened before anything else is a deep sense of mutual love in all human hearts. But maybe I could be open to this because I was brought up on: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself."
Richard Zeimet, Taiwan, China

I think this conflict has certainly hardened not only the Arab attitude towards the west, but also the attitude of the west towards the Arab world. A common sentiment here in the US is anti-war, but teamed with a deep support for the troops. It is sad to think that many men and women out there are fighting, believing they are freeing a country from a tyrant, when at the same time those people they are trying to free hate them and rally against them.
Carmen, US

Where were these voices when Saddam himself killed hundreds of thousands?

Lee Mullin, UK

Whilst I feel it is awful that civilians are dying in Iraq, I am horrified by the reaction from the Muslim states. This is a case of double standards, surely? They are in uproar now over the hundreds of civilian casualties now, but where were these voices when Saddam himself killed hundreds of thousands of his civilians over the last fifteen years? Was this condoned by these people because it was Muslim killing Muslim?
Lee Mullin, UK

As an Indian, I think the hardened Arab feeling is just a continuation of the effect of colonisation which we Indians suffered for 400 years from Great Britain. Now it comes from America and Britain. The method differs, but the aim is the same. It will continue until an effective freedom fight from Arabs.
Palasseri K, India/ Russia

The whole world knew that Saddam was a tyrant just as the whole world knew he did not pose an immediate threat and could be disarmed peacefully. A greater achievement than the annihilation of innocent civilians would be the intelligent and humane use of superior military power to sponsor peace throughout the Middle East. The present isolationist approach, which had already emerged before 9/11, will polarise not just Arab attitudes but attitudes throughout the world. Bush is playing a dangerous game of brinkmanship, destroying international institutions and treaties under the guise of protection of American interests. We cannot but fear the long-term consequences of such short-sighted policies.
Paul, Germany

This war is just an escalation of the wrongdoing we have involved ourselves in since oil was discovered there

Thomas Jones, United States

The war can't do anything but harden Arab opinion against the West. This war is just an escalation of the wrongdoing we have involved ourselves in since oil was discovered there. Every person killed or wounded has relatives. What the leaders of the West don't take into account is that in this region people hold the wrongs done against them for three and four generations afterwards.
Thomas Jones, United States

As an Arab I can most certainly tell you that these "hardened" opinions are not a result of one or two weeks of war but rather years and years of purely tyrannical violence from Lebanon to Palestine to Iraq. It is a shame that not all Arabs leaders stand together on this point, but I am positive that the people do. The lies the Americans have told the world will eventually fireback. Long Live Iraq!
Sandra, Perth, Australia

Most of the Arab nations and their people despised us prior to this latest Iraq war. Maybe the question should be: "Has the support of Arabs to Saddam Hussein's regime hardened US opinion against the Arab world? The answer is yes. There are those of us here in the US who will always remember Palestinians dancing in the street when the news of 9/11 broke. It set the US/Arab relations back 20 years.
Skip Nelson, USA

Winning the war will not be a problem for the coalition force. The problem Mr Bush and Mr Blair should keep in mind is how to gain the confidence of the United Nations and the Arabs. They should tell the world their interest is not about the oil in Iraq. Movements in this direction will go a long way to bring post war stability.
Polycarp Neba, Cameroon

The war has deeply hardened the Arab opinion indeed. The Arabs were always suspicious of the West's motives. Some of them wanted to believe in the Western freedom spirit, but that was until now. Poor Arabs, they can do nothing but watch as their homes burn, one after the other. The Arabs should have known better and remembered the lessons of the past. The way things are going it seems to me that the coalition will attack Syria and Iran next because of Hezbollah. Then will come the turn of the Saudis.
Erfan, Arakan, Burma

It's time the West stood up to the Arab countries

John, USA

Why are we so worried about Arab opinion? Are there any democratically elected governments in the area? Look at the widespread human rights abuses by Arab governments. They have held the West to ransom for decades with high oil prices. It's time the West stood up to the Arab countries. Iraq has been given a blessing, I am sure most would choose freedom than slavery when given the choice.
John, USA

How can people like John claim that Arab anger does not matter? So much for democracy! Iraq has been invaded by countries who made a profit before, and who will make an even bigger profit after the so-called war. The suffering of the Iraqi people who did not ask to be "liberated" is appalling, and I think that those people who say that a few civilian deaths are worth it are callous and indecent in their attitude. Saddam Hussein is indeed a tyrant, but then so is Bush, who tried so many excuses (which no-one believed) before coming up with "democracy" as a battle cry. You cannot import democracy, carried into the country on missiles.
Janet, UK ex pat, UK/Switzerland

The U.S. and British lost their credential in the Arab opinion. They may win the war but they have lost the Arab minds. They are considered the enemy of the Arab people.
Fahad, Saudi Arabia

Yes, it has hardened the Arab worlds attitude towards a future US-led administration in Iraq, simply because the unleashed war was not legal and not supported by the UN.
Vladimir, Russia

Whilst it is sad that innocent Iraqis are dying, don't kid yourselves by thinking that all Arabs are against this war. In fact a good percentage of us are keen on the eventual downfall of all the dictatorships of the Middle East. The people of the region have the same right as anyone else on this planet to live in societies that respect human rights and democracy.
Robert Lubnani, Australia

Until the US can display even-handedness in its dealings with Israel and Palestine, the Arab world will continue to distrust the West and in particular the US. As much as the Arabs hate and distrust Saddam Hussein, they hate America even more. They also suspect that the REAL reason for the war is to seize control of Iraqi oil and no amount of bland reassurance will dispel this suspicion. Bush and Blair will have a lot of bridge building to do after the war to regain any sort of relationship with the Arab world.
Mark, Bahrain

The war has hardened Arab opinion

Rana Hekman, USA/ Egypt

Absolutely - the war has hardened Arab opinion. At the American University here in Cairo where my husband works, many Egyptian colleagues and peers are full indignation and no longer believe in the American dream. People who hoped to work toward bringing democracy to Egypt no longer believe that democracy even exists in America.
Rana Hekman, USA/ Egypt

Yes I believe that the war has hardened Arab sentiment. However, the question that needs to be asked is, does it matter? The coalition campaign is clearly going well and once the dust has settled it will become obvious that the Iraqi people are the main beneficiaries of this war. At that time the world will acknowledge the courage of the coalition leaders.
Anton Kleinschmidt, South Africa

I believe that this recent incursion into Iraq will be the biggest mistake the US ever made in its so-called war against terrorism. If the US though it had problems with terrorism before, boy are they in for a big surprise when the number of Osama Bin Ladens mushrooms throughout the Arab and Islamic world. I believe the US president's advisors are to blame for this incursion, Saddam the tyrant could have been dealt with using secret forces, CIA operations or even other special operations that could have cost a lot less money and lives.
Kamal Mugahid Elzain, Sudan

Yes, I believe the current war in Iraq has hardened Arab opinion against the Western world. In Australia the local Muslim/Arab population in Sydney are very angry at what they see on TV and read in the papers. And frankly I do not blame then.
Victor Quayle, Sydney, Australia

Arabs see their pride being demolished

George, Dubai

Arabs already criticise the US as being an imperialist state and currently with the unjustified attack on Iraq Arabs only see their pride being demolished. Faced by betrayal from their leaders who are easily bought with American money and the weak international community, that will not put the region's stability on their priority list.
George, Dubai

I think what has hardened the hearts and minds of the Arab people is their media which reports only what and how the government directs rather than facts.
Terry Lemke, United States

Not only the Arab world, probably the whole world is polarised against the unlawful invasion of coalition forces.
Rags, UK

The Pope warned Bush exactly about the war causing the Middle East to boil over. Either Bush was foolish to think it was a risk worth taking or he wanted this to happen so that he can carry on dealing with threats which the Americans are so good at creating. Just look at Bin Laden and Saddam- US creations now being dealt with at huge cost by the US. So too will be the case with whatever this war throws up from the abyss.
YK, UK

I would not blame the Arab world for their anger over this US led war of 'liberation' where hundreds of innocent civilians are being massacred daily. Remember the hatred felt in the West towards the Muslim world after 9/11 ? An entire Arab country is now being devastated by Western coalition forces - how else would you expect them to feel?
Tony Portley, Ireland

If the Arab states sincerely care for the Iraqis, they should have cared not to enrich this tyrant

Joseph Makolwal, Kenya

If the Arab states, as well as Russia and France, sincerely claim that they care for the Iraqis, they should have cared not to enrich this tyrant. I believe the world will have relief once Saddam's regime collapses. Time will tell what the positive sides of this liberation are.
Joseph Makolwal, Kenya

Why are we so worried about Arab opinion? Are there any democratically elected governments in the area? Look at the widespread human rights abuses by Arab governments. They have held the West to ransom for decades with high oil prices. It's time the West stood up to the Arab countries.
SL, UK

Iraqis must unite and defend their land against the invaders. We (Somalis) gave the Americans and their alliances hard lessons in 1993 that they will never forget it. So Iraqis you are brave people, history will tell you.
Shakur, Somalia

The British and American forces will probably control Iraq soon and they will rule this country for the foreseeable future, but I have to ask why does anybody think that we as Iraqis will be better off when the Brits and Americans are in control? They killed hundreds of civilians and treat the people very badly from where we watch on all the TV channels (not only the Arabic channels). I do not believe for a moment that the UK and USA will care for the Iraqi people; they are just as bad as Saddam.
Haider, UK

The Arab peoples have always mistrusted the US intentions in the Middle East and have felt that this war is very much about Christianity prevailing over Islam. This differs greatly from a majority of their leaders who are more concerned with remaining in power by any means necessary and so follow a somewhat non-cohesive policy. The danger is that not only will this anger continue to swell against US intervention through radical fundamentalism but also create instability within Arab nations whose leaders only verbally condemn America.
Tunji Akinsehinwa, UK

The Arab nations are cautious to accept any efforts to heal their relationship with the West. Until America proves themselves to be true liberators and there are signs of Iraq being restored, there will continue to be mistrust and misgiving.
Mel, Malaysia

With mounting casualties of innocent Iraqi civilians I cannot see a softening of Arab opinion

Ronit, Lahore, Pakistan

The answer lies with the US government, whether it will take control of post war Iraq or hand over the administration to the UN. With mounting casualties of innocent Iraqi civilians I cannot imagine there would be a softening of Arab opinion. What if it happened in the USA? Also it is still to be seen whether American oil companies meddle with Iraqi oil or not.
Ronit, Lahore, Pakistan

The US has taken an initiative to liberate the Iraqis from Saddam Hussein. One hopes that the US will also liberate the Palestinians from the humiliation they suffer at the hands of Israel. That will be the only way to mend the relations between the Arabs and the Americans.
Alex Amtaika, South Africa

The rise of fundamentalism does not serve the long-term interests of Arab leaders

Gabor Arato, Budapest, Hungary

Irrespective of their personal opinion about the war in Iraq, the worst that Arab leaders can do is fuel the hatred of their citizens toward America and Europe, since the rise of fundamentalism does not serve their long-term interests either in economical or in political terms. So, I think the best that they could do in this tragic situation is try to pretend non-commitment - besides showing commiseration with the Iraqi people - because like it or not, they are also dependent of the US.
Gabor Arato, Budapest, Hungary

I think what's going on is terrible but the pain Iraq's people are going through may give the generations ahead a life not possible now. That alone is something that could and should unite the Arab world.
Ben, UK

I think it's a beginning of good relations among Arab countries. Especially when the USA could target Syria and Iran next.
Hina, Pakistan

There was a strong anti-US/UK feeling long before this colonial effort

Jamal Ali, Iran

The Arab and Muslim world have long suffered at the hands of the West. There was a strong anti-US/UK feeling long before this colonial effort. Are the policy makers stupid? The Muslims are one brotherhood if any part of this body falls ill the entire body is in pain. The forces of evil are not greeted by cheers because the Iraqis see continued US support for Israel in subjugating their brothers and sisters in Palestine.
Jamal Ali, Iran

Not only the Arab world, but probably the whole world is polarised against the unlawful invasion of coalition forces.
R, UK

This war by Bush has indeed hardened Arab opinion because no concrete reason was given for the invasion of Iraq. The Iraqi people should have been given a chance to change the regime themselves. If Saddam is not caught then he is just going to vanish in thin air like Bin Laden and continue to haunt the Iraqi people for the rest of their lives just like the Americans are being haunted by Bin Laden.
Cleopatra Jensen, Denmark

The only common ideology that I can ascertain is a hatred of America

Tony, UK

Having encountered some of the marches in the UK it seems that the protesters don't agree on what they are protesting about. In fact the only common ideology that I can ascertain is a hatred of America.
Tony, UK

Arab leaders are doing what they have been asked to do - say nothing and help the American-Anglo invasion of Iraq. The Arab citizens are seeing another Palestine-like crisis developing.
Sam, US

When the war is over President Bush will need to address the Palestinian problem. Much of the hostility towards America is because it is so close to Israel and has not pressed hard enough for a Palestinian state.
Matthew Banks, UK

I only hope that the Arab world does not get this message: that the coalition attacked Iraq not because it suspected Iraq of having weapons of mass destruction but because it was certain that Iraq did not have enough of them.
Rajesh Behl, India

If Arab leaders don't unite now, history will teach them a bitter lesson

Zanjani, Hong Kong

This is a time for all Arab leaders to stand together and fight against the invader. If they don't unite now, then history will teach them a bitter lesson.
Zanjani, Hong Kong

I find the behaviour of Iraq's neighbours very hypocritical. Where were they when Saddam was killing hundreds of thousands of their kith and kin over the years? If anybody has failed Iraq, it is its Arab neighbours! All many of them seem to feel strongly about is hatred for the West, especially America.
Daniel, Bedford, UK

Would Arab people would rather have a despotic tyrant who murders and tortures his population, than the perceived risk of a non-Arab running Iraq?
John, UK

"Polarised" attitudes are not created in two weeks. Those with long-standing hatreds of America and the West held those pre-war. But the attitudes of the rest towards the US and UK will improve in the coming months once the coalition proves this wasn't an oil grab or attempt to colonise.
Kent Bulza, USA

I think it's sad that Saddam has been transformed from tyrant to hero in the eyes of many Muslims as a result of the conflict. Much will also depend on what happens after the war and on what the Bush administration does in Iraq and its policy towards other Arab nations.
Femi, UK

This reaction had to be foreseen. Where there is no democracy, people cannot express their genuine feelings. Often they are not even in touch with their innermost feelings and are scared to death to oppose the surrounding atmosphere. New ideas are to be looked for in order that the Arab world does not feel hurt by the arrogance of the West!
Thelma Gatt, France