Webloggin » Muslim Nations Plan Summit To Discuss Middle East Turmoil

This meeting will be one to watch. There is a growing concern about the worsening relations between both the United States and Iran as well as the situation between Israel and the Palestinians. This has prompted the leaders of seven Muslim nations to call for a summit to discuss the situation.

ISLAMABAD (AFP) – The foreign ministers of seven key Muslim nations will meet in Pakistan this weekend to discuss a joint strategy to end the worsening turmoil in the Middle East, officials said Friday.

The conference on Sunday will focus on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the ongoing strife in Iraq and tensions between the United States and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear programme, Pakistani foreign ministry officials said.

The ministers from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Turkey, Malaysia, Egypt and Indonesia will prepare the ground for a summit of their leaders to be hosted in Saudi Arabia by King Abdullah at a later date.

The secretary general of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference is also due to attend.

“The foreign ministers are meeting to prepare for a summit that His Majesty King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia will hold,” foreign office spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam told AFP.

“The meeting here will consider the Palestinian crisis, the situation in Iraq and the Iran-US tensions,” Aslam said.

The AP is specifically reporting that the onus of concern is the “appointment of a naval officer as the commander of the US Armed Forces”. This is a reference to Admiral William Joseph Fallon who was confirmed by the Senate as Commander, U.S. Central Command on February 7, 2007. The fear is that a Navy Commander is best suited to deal with Iran because of the Navy’s role in any possible military action.

Senior Pakistani officials privately say they see the appointment of a naval officer as the commander of the US Armed Forces in the region as an indication of growing tilt towards a possible strike on Iran.

“There is a need to do something because the situation is just slipping out of control,” the official said.

The AP fails to mention other reasons such as the latest build up of Syria’s military or Iran expanding its uranium enrichment program despite numerous attempts by the world community to entice Iran to cease such efforts. But that is the AP for you. Always ready to paint the United States as the core of the problem.

It should be noted that Iran and Syria are increasingly working together to arm themselves up with a good deal of help from Russia. This should be a cause of concern for everyone. The U.S. buildup in the face of these threats should be expected.

Despite the AP’s limited reporting the news remains the same.

Notably absent from this meeting will be Iran, Syria and the Palestinian Authority.

I personally think this meeting is a little bit late but we will have to see what they are trying to accomplish. I have a certain sense of hope that perhaps they will address the problems with radical Islam but I have a feeling that this expectation would only result in disappointment.