Special Birthday Edition: Arabs Reject US Request For Troops

Islam Online reports:

In a new disappointment to the United States, which is leaving no stone un-turned in looking for troops to soften the Iraqis resistance hit on its forces, Arab foreign ministers unanimously rebuffed Tuesday, August 5, an American request to send troops to stabilize Iraq.
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An Arab official explained that the U.S. request of sending troops was "discussed informally and struck off the agenda because there was no hope of reaching a consensus" at the meeting of the Arab follow-up committee, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

He said many members considered sending troops to help the Americans would be tantamount to helping the U.S.-led occupation of the fellow Arab country.

Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram on Tuesday ran an editorial along those lines:" Arab nations refuse on principle to play policeman to protect the Americans or quash Iraqi resistance.

Clearly we do need the assistance, as well as the legitimacy Arab involvement would confer on the occupation. It would also be good from the cultural point of view to have people who actually understand Islam, Arabic, and could perhaps help us avoid cultural pitfalls. Unfortunately, it looks like we still have a lot of work to do. Diplomacy's hard, isn't it? Especially when you burn bridges.

ntodd  ¶ 9:18 AM