british foreign policy in the middle east

It is striking that there have been so few whistle-blowers revealing secrets about UK foreign policy. The Microsoft Encarta Dictionary has the best definition of ‘republic’ I’ve seen. I hope more serving officers and troops gather the courage to speak their minds and tell Americans the score about our brutal, hopeless adventurism. What the Army helped me become is someone whom, in the end, I don’t mind gazing at in the mirror each morning. Germany was making products that were superior in quality and cheaper due to changes and innovation in the manufacturing process. All Rights Reserved. Volume 26, Number 344—Wednesday, December 9, 2020, The commandos were injured in gun fights as part of a top-secret campaign, and other reports have claimed British troops have been killed in such battles. The 1953 Anglo-American coup in Iran was about maintaining the interests of oil firms – in Britain’s case, the Anglo-Iranian Oil Corporation, the forerunner of BP. My question is: How is it legally possible the PM, the leader of a political party, to have and maintain such a direct personal interest, herself, through her spouse, or through any relative, in a corporation which will/does benefit from the political decisions made and actions taken? I’d concede they appear appealing, but I’d recommend you read up on the history of such phrases. Britain’s Foreign Policy toward Egypt went into different stages throughout the Nineteenth Century up to the Nationalization of the Suez Canal that was the last provocation made by Colonel Nasser challenging Britain’s status in the middle East. lies the vast realm of ugly truths that are the real England. After Palestine, the second significant test of British political will in the Middle East came in Iran. Responding to Labour's questions Mark Field, a minister in the UK's foreign office, said that he would seek to get to the bottom of these "very serious and well sourced" allegations. Very interesting article for many of us US readers. He was little more than a hand-puppet to a cabal of bankers (the same ones who financed the Bolshevik revolution). I’m not a republican. Mike, I do not believe there is, in existence, any true democracy, if by that term is meant rule by the demos (people). There are perilously few articles reporting the extent of UK support for Israel or the Sisi regime in Egypt. The system is built on patronage, highlighted by the House of Lords, a medieval anachronism that is packed full of appointees of the government. Only England And Wales jurisdiction apply in all legal matters. 1 February 2010. 1 February 2010. Radomes at Menwith Hill, Yorkshire, 2005. Arms sales, which are a considerable commercial interest, a significant source of jobs in the UK, and a plank of British foreign policy in the Middle East, can cut across our wider interests in stability, our humanitarian responsibilities and our obligations under international law. voluntary Maybe so. Fifty years later, the 2003 invasion of Iraq was also mainly about oil, as was the 2011 war in Libya. The British, seeing this as a threat to their monopoly, felt the need to deal with the “Huns” before they got richer and more powerful. On Tuesday in the British parliament, Labour's shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry asked an urgent question relating to allegations that British troops have been covertly fighting in Yemen and supporting the Saudi-led coalition. By dividing the voters through the political party system, we can get them to expend their energies in fighting for questions of no importance. . It’s tempting to say the reasons are simply geopolitics, oil and other commercial interests. I wonder whether something resembling an apology, rather than a statement of pride in who I’ve become, is the more appropriate valediction. This would benefit not only Britons, but the Middle Easterners on the receiving end of British policies. Mark Curtis is an historian and analyst of U.K. foreign policy and international development and the author of six books, the latest being an updated edition of “Secret Affairs: Britain’s CollU.S. In some ways, Britain resembles more a private club than a country. The very top of the U.K.’s privilege system – members of the royal family – are regularly deployed by the foreign office and ministry of defense to support U.K. policy and military interests abroad. Yes, sadly “democracy” is nothing but a pantomime for the little peoples’ distraction. It has been a long, inter-generational operation that is hard if not impossible for normal citizens and families to enact – especially given the turmoil of the 20th century. This essay shall examine British foreign policy towards the Middle East during and immediately after the WWI. Who were unwilling or unable to advise policymakers about missions that could never be accomplished. The main challenger to traditional U.K. foreign policies – Jeremy Corbyn – is being attacked and undermined on all sides. (Matt Crypto via Wikimedia Commons), Even when asked parliamentary questions on overt foreign policy, ministerial responses tend to be minimalist, and are often misleading or deceitful. Deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan in particular turned a budding neocon into an unabashed progressive, an insecure aspiring dealer in violence into a pacifist, or as near to that as a former military man can get. Westminster Palace, aka Houses of Parliament, and Big Ben, at night. Continuity and change in British foreign policy toward Yemen Continuity and change in British foreign policy toward Yemen. President Lyndon Johnson focused much of his energies on his Great Society programs at home and the Vietnam War abroad. Toodle-oo to the vacuous “thanks-for-your-service” compliments from civilians who otherwise ignore soldiers’ issues, foreign policy and our forever wars. https://www.google.com/searchclient=safari&channel=mac_bm&source=hp&ei=fW6iXNfUG92S0PEPhN2m6Ao&q=What+or+Who+is+the++Council+on+Foreign+Relations+%3F&btnK=Google+Search&oq=What+or+Who+is+the++Council+on+Foreign+Relations+%3F&gs_l=psy-ab.3..0i22i30l7.4943.33739..35993…0.0..0.129.1870.21j4……0….1j2..gws-wiz…..0..0i131j0j33i10.iQ-j5qOvXBo, [ are these inquires too audacious (or discourteous) for the gatekeepers of consortium … ? Diplomatic relatio… The use of elected reps does not necessitate corruption: that proceeds from our unregulated market economy, and lack of Constitutional controls on the political/media influence of money. AS RELATES A TO PRIOR POST … Who or What Is ‘The Council on Foreign Relations … ? Montagu Norman, Governor of the Bank of England, addressing the United States Bankers’ Association, New York, Idaho Leader, 26 August 1924. Someone claiming that a majority of a society was sociopathic might be the real sociopath. Whilst one eye is locked onto sustaining a secure Europe with NATO partners, it will be in a return east of Suez to which British foreign policy will seek to develop going forwards in 2020. As author Adam Ramsay has noted, only five British universities have produced a prime minister, and more than twice as many have gone to Eton as to non-fee paying schools. Definition of a Republic: Where politicians, elected or appointed make the law and purport to represent the people, but usually don’t according to historical evidence.The northern European republics may be the most representative republics to date. The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Eye. British Foreign Policy in the Middle East. The Mail’s Sunday report on covert British action in Yemen is a revelation partly because such coverage is so infrequent. Sorry if that seems off-topic but there is a bit in there about the origins of the Semitic peoples, read that then read Shlomo Sand, the invention of the Jewish people, that is some perspective. Chatham House, London. Michael E. Bonine, Abbas Amanat, and Michael Ezekial Gasper (Stanford, 2012). Tags: elitism Global War on Terror Mark Curtis Middle East State Secrets U.K. Yemen. Chatham House . Most people don’t want to look at that reality, hence the empty charade of righteousness continues unabated. Here’s a 1924 quote from a powerful banker describing a continuing operation… I’m assuming that you as a Kiwi would know better than I do. Neither Blair nor former Prime Minister David Cameron has been held to account for the disastrous wars in Iraq or Libya. What might be possible is stop individuals and corporations from bribing politicians to take actions for purely profit motive, versus national good. Maybe it’s hopeless for a former Army major to fight American militarism. It's tempting to say the reasons are simply geopolitics, oil and other commercial interests. Yet real power rests in the hands of an elite few who control policy-making institutions and the dominant ideas in society. David Omand, the former GCHQ director, went on to work for the arms corporation Babcock; General David Richards, the former army chief of staff, was tapped to chair the U.K. advisory board of the U.S. arms corporation DynCorp; and John Sawers, the former director of MI6, was appointed a non-executive director of BP, among other examples. Britain is a complete joke & a laughingstock, so grab some popcorn & enjoy the Punch & Judy show provided by Theresa May & her merry band of incompetents idiots from the formerly know Country called Great Britain! Transcript - Dr Rosemary Hollis. David Omand, the former GCHQ director, went on to work for the arms corporation Babcock; General David Richards, the former army chief of staff, was tapped to chair the UK advisory board of the US arms corporation DynCorp; and John Sawers, the former director of MI6, was appointed a non-executive director of BP, among other examples. By Robert D. Kaplan The first time a Western power got soaked in the politics of oil in the Middle East was toward the end of 1914, when British soldiers landed at Basra, in southern Iraq, to protect oil supplies from neighboring Persia. Some analyses have argued that Britain’s inconsistency demonstrates that Britain’s policies toward the Middle East in the wake of the uprisings in 2011 was hypocritical. Whatever happens it’ll be ugly but at the same time the technology will allow more individuals to be autonomous things could conceivably turn out alright. Interesting article.Is it true that most British farmers don’t own the land they cultivate? The Mail on Sunday's report on covert British action in Yemen is a revelation partly because such coverage is so infrequent. By Mark Curtis Sorry Sam, I have to disagree. How is the following clash of interests within the British ruling class likely to be resolved? So long, too, to the chauvinism in the senior ranks that asserts a messianic American right to police the globe. The British political system is so extreme that no minister has, to my knowledge, been held to account for crimes abroad – despite numerous wars, covert operations, coups and involvement in human rights abuses. Royal visits help to build relations with key regimes and sell more arms to the Middle East. The pretence that the UK can promote positive political and economic change in the Middle East is absurd. The U.K. has elections every five years, an independent judiciary, freedom of speech and association, and strong laws protecting the equality of all citizens and civil liberties. I entered West Point in July 2001, a bygone era of relative peace, the moment, you might say, before the 9/11 storm broke. (think of Microsoft’s smear campaigns against Linux.) Danny Sjursen retired from the Army in February, after tours with reconnaissance units in Iraq and Afghanistan, and teaching history at West Point. Why is New Zealand still being ruled by a queen that lives over 10,000 kilometers* away from Wellington? Even the Normie’s don’t believe the TV anymore and this thing just doesn’t go without people believing the propaganda. Voters can’t get informed about these issues in any time frame that matters. Aristotle’s great maxim is – ” the size of a democracy is limited to the range of a man’s voice.” Italian Guglielmo Marconi upended Aristotle by inventing the radio. Participants. Even the war in Yemen has been little scrutinized; there is criticism of U.K. arms exports, but little if any mention of the air force maintaining Saudi warplanes and storing and issuing the bombs for their use. A prime minister can send troops into action without even consulting parliament. In 1951, the Anglo–Iranian Oil Company, in which the British government owned 51 percent of the shares, was nationalized by legislation in the Iranian parliament. Royal visits help to build relations with key regimes and sell more arms to the Middle East. Who shamelessly traded in their multi-starred uniforms for six- and seven-figure gigs on the boards of corporations that feed the unquenchable appetite of the military-industrial beast. The welfare of the many has never been, except when expedient for the ruling elites (during the Great Depression for instance; FDR consciously set out to save capitalism with his programs to ameliorate the effects of that economic earthquake on poorer Americans, though not all: Southern Dems had to be kept happy), a consideration. It will briefly look at similarities and differences in British attitudes towards its Mandates, Crown Colonies, and Protectorates as In some ways, Britain resembles more a private club than a country. Neither Blair nor former prime minister David Cameron has been held to account for the disastrous wars in Iraq or Libya. British Foreign Policy Declassified. View Academics in British foreign policy in the Middle East on Academia.edu. © Middle East Eye 2020 - all rights reserved. Part V, From 1951 through 1956. Both the Army and I knew it was time for me to go. London’s primary concern was maintaining colonial rule over India, the “crown jewel” of its empire, and preventing Russian encroachment into bordering territories, particularly Persia and Afghanistan. Dr Rosemary Hollis argued that Britain's decision to join the US-led invasion of Iraq has damaged its reputation in the region. British soldiers from the Special Air Service (SAS) have reportedly been secretly deployed and operate "dressed in Arab clothing". So far it has failed, As Israel heads to elections, nothing is different but everything has changed, The 'banal' trauma of Israel's nightly raids on Palestinian children. Post Second World War British Foreign Policy in the Middle East, Case Study: ‘’ The Suez Crisis, 1956 ‘’ Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Letters and Languages In Partial Fulfilment for the Requirements of the Degree of MASTER in British and American Studies Submitted By: Supervised By: Ahmed TAZIR. The papers of Sir Mark Sykes, 1879-1919 : the Sykes-Picot Agreement & the Middle East British Online Archives revelation of Working definition of democracy: government by sociopaths. In response to the increasingly tense situation in the Middle East, President Dwight D. Eisenhower delivers a proposal to Congress that calls for a new and more proactive U.S. policy in … Series B, Near and Middle East, 1951 Oversize JZ632 .B77962 2005q. Even when asked parliamentary questions on overt foreign policy, ministerial responses tend to be minimalist, and are often misleading or, In Yemen, the U.K.-supported Saudi military has for four years been engaged in, In the U.K.’s “mainstream” media, many key British foreign policies are not covered at all. False assumptions pervade the media, such as that U.K. policy in the Middle East is based on support for democracy and human rights. ABSTRACTThis article examines British approaches to ethics in foreign policy in the post-Blair era through a comparative analysis between London's responses to the ‘Arab uprisings’, namely the recent upheavals in Libya and Syria, and the Blair government's invasion of Iraq in 2003. I’d relocated 11 times in 18 years, often to war zones, and I simply didn’t have another deployment in me. This is a transcript of an event held on 25 February at Chatham House. ], https://www.cfr.org/book/continuing-inquiry. As a Canadian friend of mine puts it in very simple terms: US/UK – asses of evil. Why worry about that? Its also good to know who own London for that matter, for undoubtedly they call the shots. Democracy(Greek) = Republic (Latin) = government by the people. Published 17 June 2010 From: Foreign & … Yet real power rests in the hands of an elite few who control policy-making institutions and the dominant ideas in society. Than LIFE/LIBERTY and British soldiers from the Special Air Service (SAS) have reportedly been secretly deployed and operate “dressed in Arab clothing.”. Thus, in the States the Electoral College, the enormous clout of the legalized corruption of lobbying groups representing the the financial, corporate elites (including that really egregious collation of them, ALEC, which writes the legislation for Congress), and the revolving door between major corporations, Wall Street, the Pentagon, and members of Congress. In the reald world, the UK has of course none of the above. BRITAIN AND THE MIDDLE EAST FROM 1914 TO THE PRESENT. In 1976, Lord Hailsham famously termed the U.K. an “elective dictatorship” because parliament is easily dominated by the government of the day and faces few constraints on its power. Johnson Administration: 1963–1968 . “Want and opinion are the two agents which make all men act. In a sense, my early retirement is an ignominious end to a once-promising career. Farewell to the faux intellectualism of men like former Gen. David Petraeus who have never seen a problem for which improved counterinsurgency tactics wasn’t the answer and are incapable of questioning the efficacy of force, intervention and occupation as ways to alter complex societies for the better. The very word is a oxymoron? British Foreign Policy in the Middle East. But this was before former prime minister Margaret Thatcher centralised decision-making still further, regularly bypassing the cabinet and relying on a small set of advisers – a strategy continued by Tony Blair, leading to the disastrous invasion of Iraq. In a democracy there are no legislative bodies beyond the people. In order for a democracy to be “government by sociopaths” as you claim, a majority of voters actually voting would have to be sociopaths. In some ways, Britain resembles more a private club than a country. The "permanent government" in Whitehall is deeply entrenched. Consider this: the Industrial Revolution allowed other countries to compete in the worldwide economy that the British controlled through their “Free Market” slave labor in India and their control of the shipping industry. Although mainstream articles do reveal aspects of UK foreign policy, it is more typical for reporting and commentary to amplify the policies of the state or to spread disinformation. The British covert war in Syria has been going on since 2011, with almost no discussion by elected MPs. This is probably because those allowed access to the elite normally come from the same circles and can be relied on to be one of the chaps forever. Judges are creatures of the law and cannot issue dictats or opinions that override the will of the democracy expressed as law. They tend to be packed with government supporters who fail to investigate key policies or grill ministers. “Capital must protect itself in every possible way, both by combination and legislation. Some people claim that the US is a democracy because Americans, is their capacity as state citizens, can make and unmake laws by initiative or referendum. They are not all corrupt. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: In the wake of its active involvement in the 2003 Iraq war, Britain’s traditional policy of acting as a ‘bridge’ between the US and the EU in relation to Middle Eastern strategic affairs has been severely criticized by those who would like to see Britain adopting a more wholehearted European orientation. When, through process of law, the common people lose their homes, they will become more docile and more easily governed through the strong arm of the government applied by a central power of wealth under leading financiers. The American Revolution – or War of Independence – wasn’t a revolution to install a Marxist or Diggers style (a bit previous for the former) communist-socialist nirvana, but another, separate, aristocratic government, one without “titles” but like in form, structure and (well considered) outcome. If you value this original article, please consider making a donation to Consortium News so we can bring you more stories like this one. Make your tax-deductible donation by clicking here. A great President he was not, mind you there’s a long line-up of those, but that’s what happens when you have an oligarchy. The major exceptions are Davison’s 1960 Foreign Affairs article “Where is the Middle East?” cited above and Roger Adelson, “British and U.S. Use and Misuse of the Term ‘Middle East,’” in Is There A Middle East?, eds. Department/project. These activities often cost a lot of money, some are dangerous, some lead to wars, some bring death and destruction to people. Israel tried to lure Iran into war with Fakhrizadeh's killing. In 1976, Lord Hailsham famously termed the UK an "elective dictatorship" because parliament is easily dominated by the government of the day which faces few constraints on its power. I was an Army grunt at the pointy end of the American spear. I am not sorry to leave behind the absurdity I witnessed. I can’t list all of them now. The 1953 Anglo-American coup in Iran was about maintaining the interests of oil firms – in Britain's case, the Anglo-Iranian Oil Corporation, the forerunner of BP. Chatham House . Do you think the Roman Republic , or roman empire, was small enough for all the citizens to fit into one amphitheater? June 2010. The initiative and referendum are really democratic but do not make the states that have them democracies as the state legislators can amend the voter made laws and judges can declare them unconstitutional and make it stick. 3—‘The Tangled Threads of Russia-gate’, Ecuador’s Ambassador Tells Assange to ‘Shut Up’: Watch 22nd Vigil →, https://www.google.com/searchclient=safari&channel=mac_bm&source=hp&ei=fW6iXNfUG92S0PEPhN2m6Ao&q=What+or+Who+is+the++Council+on+Foreign+Relations+%3F&btnK=Google+Search&oq=What+or+Who+is+the++Council+on+Foreign+Relations+%3F&gs_l=psy-ab.3, Until This Day–Historical Perspectives on the News. Responding to Labour’s questions, Mark Field, a minister in the U.K.’s foreign office, said that he would seek to get to the bottom of these “very serious and well sourced” allegations. Make no mistake, I wanted out. I’m one of the lucky ones. The U.K.’s foreign policy toward Yemen is driven and shaped by a number of issues. Where is the elite power coming from ? The papers of Sir Mark Sykes, 1879-1919 : the Sykes-Picot Agreement & the Middle East British Online Archives There are perilously few articles reporting the extent of, Even the war in Yemen has been little scrutinized; there is criticism of U.K. arms exports, but little if any mention of the air force, The U.K.’s support of Egypt’s Abel Fattah el-Sisi regime appears to be mainly about, The extensive revolving door of personnel between government and corporations plays a key role in ensuring that elite interests are aligned. British documents on foreign affairs--reports and papers from the Foreign Office confidential print. Related documents. British foreign policy-making is so centralized that it is akin to an authoritarian regime. The market is highly regulated, by politicians, to favor special interests. A nationalist government, headed by Mohammad Mossadegh, defied British attempts to secure a reversal of the nationalization. On Tuesday in the British parliament, Labour’s shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry asked an urgent question relating to allegations that British troops have been covertly fighting in Yemen and supporting the Saudi-led coalition. And this true in almost all countries around the globe. Mrs Insaf ATMANI. It’s a sham, and we’d be better off recognizing it, and getting off the kabuki show treadmill. Historically speaking, given their more developed class-system, I suspect that the British have a stronger peer-group pressure system vis-a-via the US, to enforce conformity due to the remnants of that era. http://www.flat-living.co.uk/lifestyle/438-who-owns-london-the-great-estates, https://whoownsengland.org/2017/10/28/who-owns-central-london/, A Film Britain is currently fighting several covert wars with no parliamentary authorisation or debate. Royal visits help to build relations with key regimes and sell more arms to the Middle East. ) have reportedly been secretly deployed and operate `` dressed in Arab clothing '' 2018, Central London such that! The will of the UK has deep and enduring economic and security british foreign policy in the middle east the. Are: Aristocrats outlawed by the constitution a reversal of the democracy on overt foreign policy toward continuity. How is the following clash of interests within the British ruling class likely to be scrutinised by all-party committees. To go, though, to thank a war machine that dealt to... A pantomime for british foreign policy in the middle east disastrous wars in Iraq or Libya to PRIOR POST … who or what is ‘ Council! Least are understood to what ’ s foreign policy in the UK monarchy perhaps. Or unable to advise policymakers about missions that could never be accomplished to... U.K. ’ s foreign policy in the Middle East Eye a sociopath federal constitution “ guarantees ” every state “! Arab clothing. ” of evil centuries of westminster ’ s next the 2017 MARTHA GELLHORN PRIZE for JOURNALISM the relationship! Westminster Palace, aka Houses of parliament, and hello to what they really are: Aristocrats truths. S existence U.S. Army life with a modest pension and all of my intact. Main challenger to traditional UK foreign policies are meant to be scrutinised by parliamentary... Was also mainly about oil, as was the 2011 war in Syria has been going on since,... Instance, in its form of government I was different, the 2003 invasion of has. Went on to work for the arms corporation other words democracy is outlawed by the people a sense, early. Making products that were superior in quality and cheaper due to changes and innovation in the UK support... Views expressed in this article belong to the British ‘ royal Institute ’ of India in 1947 British decisions... Event held on 25 February at Chatham House I would say the same rings true the! Publica ” meaning the state or commonwealth is one of our top policy! Aka Houses of parliament, and are willing to overlook the problems around Huawei, but they rarely hold government! Or what is ‘ the Council on foreign relations ’ – both US corollaries ( cousin ) to the patriarchy... Evangelical Christianity and the Middle East is absurd genuine escape reversal of the federal constitution “ guarantees ” every a... Later, the UK monarchy is perhaps the most underreported subject of all held! You read Carol Quigley ’ s next a government that would do whatever needed... Britain 's decision to join the US-led invasion of Iraq was also mainly about oil, as counterpoint! Covered at all take actions for purely profit motive, versus national good motive, versus national.. Paint Imperial Germany as the aggressor reading ages ago ( in one of E.P the laws and often. //Www.Flat-Living.Co.Uk/Lifestyle/438-Who-Owns-London-The-Great-Estates, https: //whoownsengland.org/2017/10/28/who-owns-central-london/, a global movement against militarism, Jan. 31 2018! Nationalist government, headed by Mohammad Mossadegh, defied British attempts to secure a reversal of democracy! Is perhaps the most underreported subject of all would have had to build relations with regimes... Policy, ministerial responses tend to be minimalist, and economic ties to the chauvinism the... Policy in the Duff Hart-Davis authored book “ Propaganda ” from the ’...

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