Tehran, October 26, The Iran Project �The Saudi Arabia plays a prominent religious and political role in the region, enjoying extensive ties with international community. The policy to play among the superpowers and to insist on the past stances, however, may not contributed it to the desired outcomes or even might reverse the situation. Adil al-Jubeir, the Saudi Foreign Affairs Minister's recent remarks that Assad must leave the office or face the military choice is the reason to write this editorial.

Adil al-Jubeir didn't make it clear how Syria will deal with the military option. Will the Saudi Government issue the declaration of war? What would the declaration look like? Would the Saudis be able to convince the European and American allies to wage war against Syria? How the Saudis will confront the Syria war case whereas it has already experienced the military solution in past four years and lately it has been Russia that has involved and banished the risk of war.

Mr. Minister, Syria is different from Yemen. To let Saudis to establish an Arab-led coalition to achieve the goals in Syria is finally impossible. It isn't easy to play the game among the powers.

Mr. Minister, didn't Saud al Faisal the former Saudi Foreign Minister travel to Europe and America to obtain permission in order to open fire on targets in Syria with the long-range ammunition? But it is US to make the final decision. Didn't Prince Bandar Bin Sultan meet Putin to convince him to not support Assad government? Despite contracts worth tens of billions of dollars with Kremlin, didn't he return home in empty hands? Didn't you visit Moscow to state the same thing? What have been the outcomes? They finally led to Russia military presence and to deliver the message that no one would be allowed to topple Assad. Putin also told President Obama that this is a Syrian case, asking him to work with Assad to fight against terrorism.

Mr. Minister, political realism doesn't imply that you stick to the old policies, keep repeating the same stances in Moscow, Riyadh and New York. It entails reconsidering the attitudes toward the Syria crisis.

Aren't destruction, massacres of 300 thousands, wounding and displacing millions of others massive enough?

Mr. Minister! United States is no longer seeking Assad removal but it insists on fighting terrorism. Europeans also attempt to join the US coalition and you know the Russia position better. What are you gambling on? Haven't you find your country alone in insistence on stances over Syria conflict? Cairo is improving the ties with Damascus, while other Arab countries plan to reopen the consulates in Syria, resuming the political ties with the government. Playing game among the powers particularly between the Russian and American may lead to military consequences which are not in favor of the whole region.

The developments in Syria has changed Erdogan's attitude toward the case, leading it to accept Assad in power along with Western allies. How your opinions are viewed for those seeing you? Here, in Arab world media, no body calls on "Assad either must leave or be removed by force", except you! Please explain us your attitudes.

Mr. Minister, lastly I don't want to remind you of the choices ahead of Israel to end occupation, as to whether leave voluntarily the occupied Palestinian territory or face the military option.

 

This article is English version of Mohammad Salama's editorial for Jordan's daily al-Deyar.