Editorial
Need to bolster regional cooperation
http://www.jordantimes.com/sun/opinion/opinion1.htm

It's been another horrific weekend. The multiple suicide bombings in Taba,
Egypt, are witnessing a rising death toll. A woman in Liverpool shudders as
she faces an unspeakable horror - the beheading of her husband by a
despicable group of men who have no regard for humanity, let alone the God
whose name they take in vain.

These most recent events add to the mounting list of acts of terrorism
being perpetrated around the world.

While the Taba attackers have yet to be identified, their operations at the
Hilton Hotel and two other Egyptian tourism sites on the Red Sea have the
markings of Al Qaeda. The Abdullah Azzam Brigade has publicly claimed
responsibility, and this particular group is linked to Al Qaeda. Another
faction, Al Tawheed Brigade, has also claimed responsibility. Both, though,
have linked their attacks to Israel's military aggression against the
Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

But the legitimate outrage at Israel's occupation, oppression and military
onslaught against Palestinian civilians should not take the form of
violence, particularly against innocent victims.

Palestinian factions Hamas and Islamic Jihad themselves would not have
targeted Egyptian interests. By striking at the resort town of Taba, the
terrorists have made Egypt and the Egyptian people the principal targets,
irrespective of the nationality of the people killed or injured in the
blasts. The terrorists, thus, made no distinction between Arab and non-Arab
targets. Their acts were meant to instil fear among foe and friend alike.
It is not only the Egyptian tourism that stands to suffer; the tourism
industry of other Arab countries in the region which rely heavily on this
sector for the growth of their economies suffers as well.

While Egyptian resort areas fall under strict security measures, Friday's
attacks indicate that extra efforts need to be taken to increase and
strengthen regional security cooperation. The countries of the Middle East
constitute one interlinked market and when damage is inflicted on one Arab
country, the rest of the Arab countries stand to be hurt.

To bolster regional security cooperation, and through that international
security efforts, it is time the countries of the Middle East form an
inter-Arab security council.

Sunday, October 10, 2004