Word: arabism
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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Though the CIA has had its setbacks in the region--it failed to predict the Shah's 1979 fall in Iran and Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990--the agency retains a mystique in the Arab world. "For Arafat, it's a big deal to be dealing with the head of the CIA," says a senior State Department official. The P.L.O. chairman and Tenet have taken pains to cultivate each other. During Tenet's first visit to the West Bank in 1996, Arafat arranged for Tenet, who is Greek Orthodox, to tour Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity, guided...
...Baghdad has carefully picked its moment to rewind to last winter's crisis: On Friday, the U.S. blocked attempts by Russia, France and China to review U.N. sanctions against Iraq. Saddam hopes to exploit that division to isolate Washington from its Gulf War allies. Russia and pro-Western Arab states will likely be even more strongly opposed to military action than they were last February, while Saddam will have drawn courage from NATO's obvious reluctance to take military action in Kosovo. The policy makers meeting in Washington will be aware that if air strikes could alter the political equation...
...served as Minister of Infrastructure, a post he will keep, the promotion completed a long rehabilitation following his resignation as Defense Minister after the 1982 Sabra and Shatila massacres of Palestinian civilians in Lebanon by the Israel-allied Phalangist militia. Though still reviled in much of the Arab world for his role in that outrage and others, Sharon over the past year has gained a reputation for honesty and reliability among Israel's peace partners...
...meetings with world leaders, Abdullah has been signaling that he intends for his country to play a more assertive foreign role. Saudi Arabia wants to interest itself in the frequently faltering Arab-Israeli peace talks--and not necessarily to the delight of American policymakers. In drafting a joint communique two weeks ago, Abdullah insisted on making a symbolic point about Arab rights in Jerusalem...
Even if they are pleasantly impressed by Abdullah, many in Washington will continue to yearn for King Fahd. He was a monarch who seldom wavered in his friendship and almost never spoke out against the U.S., while Abdullah will more readily express Arab frustration with American policies such as support for Israel and the unilateral bombing of suspected terrorist facilities. "Under Fahd, we had a 'special relationship,'" says a Saudi official. "Now we may have 'special differences...