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2005-08-31 Iraq-Jordan

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Posted by Fred 2005-08-31 00:00|| || Front Page|| [1 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 I don't see what use the Arab League is, period. I mean what does it actually do?

Posted by Dan Darling">Dan Darling 2005-08-31 00:07|| http://www.regnumcrucis.blogspot.com]">[http://www.regnumcrucis.blogspot.com] 2005-08-31 00:07|| Front Page Top

#2 That's Jerry. No self respecting Arab Leaguer would be caught dead without a 'stache.

Posted by ed 2005-08-31 00:31|| 2005-08-31 00:31|| Front Page Top

#3 According to this site, it says in the Arab League charter:

The League has as its purpose the strengthening of the relations between the member-states, the coordination of their policies in order to achieve co-operation between them and to safeguard their independence and sovereignty; and a general concern with the affairs and interests of the Arab countries. It has also as its purpose the close co-operation of the member-states, with due regard to the Organisation and circumstances of each state, on the following matters :

A. Economic and financial affairs, including commercial relations, customs, currency and questions of agriculture an industry.
B. Communications; this includes railroads, roads, aviation, navigation, telegraphs and posts.
C. Cultural affairs.
D. Nationality, passports, visas, execution of judgments and extradition of criminals.
E. Social affairs.
F. Health affairs.

Sounds like the African Union with a bit more cash.

Posted by Pappy 2005-08-31 00:33|| 2005-08-31 00:33|| Front Page Top

#4 I don't see what use the Arab League is, period. I mean what does it actually do?

For one thing, it took a pass on Saddam for a couple of decades while he killed millions.

Posted by Captain America 2005-08-31 00:51|| 2005-08-31 00:51|| Front Page Top

#5 The Arab League is extremely unpopular with many ordinary Iraqis. Its best use is as a bogeyman. Al-Jaafari could win points if he could bring himself to denounce the League in forceful language.

Posted by mhw 2005-08-31 08:56|| 2005-08-31 08:56|| Front Page Top

#6 dan, you might want to read Daniel Pipes, "Greater Syria: The History of an Ambition"

Basically the Arab league served two purposes. 1. It was used to clamp down on identity changes that threatened arab nationalism. Since Jordanian king Abdullahs project for a Greater Syria, with himself as king, ran counter to arab nationalism (since it emphasized greater Syrian identity instead, and attempted to subordinated the arab nationalists among the palestinians to Abdullah) the Arab league was a tool against Abdullah, and to restrain Abdullah. It was also a tool wrt then Maronite dominated Lebanon - which in the 40s was flirting with a Francophone, European identity, rather than an Arab one. The deal was that Lebanon had to stay arab, and declare war on Israel, in return for which the League would guartantee Lebanons territorial integrity - IE Lebanon would get to keep all the mainly non-Maronite lands the French had gifted them with. (of course this was a bad deal for the Maronites long term, and I suppose Arik Sharon has been contemplating that precedent)
2. It was a way of expresssing arab national identity that didnt threaten individual regimes. So rather than a more aggressive arab nationalism, that would attempt to destroy individual arab regimes in favor of a pan-arab state, the force of arab nationalism was diverted into safer channels, esp the war with Israel.

Posted by liberalhawk 2005-08-31 09:54|| 2005-08-31 09:54|| Front Page Top

#7 "Either Amr Moussa or Jerry Lewis. I'm not sure which."

Either way, a hero in France.

Posted by Xbalanke 2005-08-31 12:31|| 2005-08-31 12:31|| Front Page Top

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