(Newsweek) Leslie H. Gelb - The uncontested winners in the still-roiling revolutions of the Middle East and North Africa are those who own, sell, and bet on oil. In the last month alone, oil prices have leaped almost 10%. To date, the revolutions have generated far more drama and hope than real change as power structures remain largely intact. Israel is the biggest strategic loser. The Jewish state has relied on Arab autocracies to subdue the anti-Zionist sentiments of their peoples. And Israel can't do anything to fix its plight. Times are not at all conducive for new talks with Palestinians. Whatever happens, Washington will confront greater anti-Americanism. The fact is that Arabs generally see the United States as the protector of the corrupt autocrats who long ruled them and the savior of the hated Israel. Counterterrorism operations and anti-Iran diplomacy will suffer. The writer is president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations.
2011-03-07 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive