A peace proposal with Jordan as the keystone to the path to peace for the region with a 12 point list of ideas guiding the proposal.
1. Recognition that the key to peace in the region is not division of established nation states and religious groups but instead unification. This includes Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, the Palestinian Territories and logically the Sinai.
2. Recognition that the Hashemite Kingdom is indeed geographically and historically central to the long term unity of the region.
3. Recognition that for every current nation state in the region there are at least two, if not more, religious and ethnic groups who have shared and called that respective region their home for centuries.
4. Recognition that for centuries the people of this region considered themselves part of one great whole and lived in relative harmony with their neighbors.
5. Recognition that while in some nation states one or more ethnic and/or religious groups hold dominate power their fellow ethnic and/or religious contemporaries in other nation states are in peril of great physical danger in the current and/or coming time frame depending upon various outcome scenarios.
6. Recognition that as past, current and future events have and will unfold it is likely that even greater numbers of refugees and diaspora of an unprecedented scale will be displaced unless solutions are found soon.
7. Recognition that even those citizens not forced to move have and will continue to experience extreme hardship, fear for the future and the waste of what could have been a more productive and happy existence.
8. Recognition that if a peaceful solutions to events throughout the region are not found soon the numbers of foreign citizens of nations not directly involved will increase in number joining the armed conflict.
9. Recognition that in the case of Iraq, the wholesale removal of thousands upon thousands of members of the army, government and other civil jobs upon the fall of the Baath regime was a grave error in judgement and cost the lives of literally tens of thousands of Iraqi citizens. Iraq has never recovered from such a blunder.
10. Recognition that whatever the outcome in Syria to repeat the errors expressed in #9 would be a tremendous error.
11. Recognition that the key to peace is to call upon all those involved to reach for a higher purpose and description of a national citizen. Asabiyya if you will.
12. There is no time like today.
I propose the creation of the Hashemite Kingdom of Syriaq created by the unification of Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, the Palestinian Territories and hopefully the transfer of sovereignty of the Sinai from Egypt to the Kingdom.
****While at first thought it seems as if this is the creation of a long held dream of a Greater Syria, I am of a mind that it is actually the creation of the long held dream of a Greater Palestinian Homeland. The vast majority of people in each of the nations of Syriaq would, I propose, agree that to join in a Greater Palestine over and above any other factor. Even the upper echelons of the Syrian government would be hard pressed to be perceived as standing in the way of the long held dream of a Greater Syria or Palestine. The retention of the Hashemite dynasty is primarily based upon historical recognition of the dynasty and its relationship and guardianship of religious sites throughout history. The dynasty would also allow for an anchor upon which to create a new nation, constitution and sense of unified citizenship. Finally the Kingdom is again the keystone to a unified and contiguous Greater Palestine. Thus too is the hope that Egypt will see this concept and consider the transfer of the Sinai to Syriaq. The final reason to hope for the transfer of sovereignty of the Sinai to Syriaq is that much of the industry in the way of transport such as oil transport being positioned in Aqaba might be moved further west to avoid ecological damage to the pristine Gulf of Aqaba****
I propose that it be a constitutional monarchy with a King as head of state, a bicameral legislature with a Prime Minister as head of government and independent judiciary.
****A bicameral legislature would hopefully allow for a greater balance of power between various religious and ethic groups in two separate but equal legislative bodies. Other than the 2 chambers proposal the legal framework that would allow so many diverse and wide ranging peoples to live in unity would indeed be created by those who under which such laws they would live.****
I propose that the Royal and Legislative capital be Amman. I propose that the highest court of the Judicial branch be established in Al Quds.
****The proposal of Amman as the capital is both a compromise for not choosing either Baghdad, Damascus, Aleppo, Beirut or Al Quds as the primary capital and the recognition that, as the capital of a country of some 70 million people, the economic foundation to the entire Amman region because of being the capital would replace years of having to rely on economic aid. Being the capital would require thousands of permanent jobs across the spectrum of talents for such a city. Amman, while also currently the home of the Hashemite dynasty, already has much of the infrastructure in place and is currently home to thousands upon thousands of diaspora from other nations. Amman has become the center of unified cause without perhaps truly realizing what a valuable mindset has already been developing. One of acceptance and diversity. There is perhaps not a single minority in what would be Syriaq who does not feel already welcome in Amman. While many may press for Al Quds to be the unified capital, I believe the factors of relative size and location make this unreasonable. Perhaps as a capital for a few millions of people, but not for a capital of a some 70+ million and growing population I do however believe that for Al Quds to be the Judicial capital is both historically symbolic and quite feasible relative to size and space needed.
One must also recognize that in a country such as Syriaq, with a common currency, markets, commercial laws, resources and talents the cities of Baghdad, Damascus, Aleppo, Hewler and Beirut would each individually be great economic, cultural, educational and religious centers in their own rights without being a national capital. ****
I propose keeping the current governorates or equivalent with perhaps additions that were being contemplated before unification. Thus between 59 and 65 governorates.
****I would hope that there is a great deal of governmental authority given to the governorate level. I also believe that it is imperative that the Kurdish Autonomous Region not only continue but perhaps be expanded to areas of Kurdish majority. I would, however not encourage other minorities to receive such autonomy but rather find that the level of authority reserved for the various governorates to be adequate. I would however propose that perhaps the Golan Heights be agreed to by both Israel and Syriaq to be a Druze Autonomous Zone.****
I propose that while encouraging the various foreign citizens who have come to the region to participate in the civil unrest will accept the concept of the Kingdom of Syriaq and return home it is my belief that it would be a very long term grave mistake to ask the Russians to leave. Indeed I would encourage perhaps an even greater presence.
The Kingdom of Syriaq, just by its much larger size and geography will need a small but capable defense force. This will require an army, air force, navy and some sort of coastal defense force for which the Russians could provide valuable assistance. As they are already there and would provide valuable assistance in the establishment of the Kingdom I would again highly recommend that they be encouraged to stay.
If the Kingdom is to also grow and thrive in the early first years the Syrian forces below the very upper echelons of power will be needed to be the core for an effective force. It is my belief that it would be a great mistake, no matter the outcome, to seek retaliation beyond the very highest members of the Syrian forces. To deploy many of these forces throughout the entire Kingdom of Syriaq, in use for training and border patrol should not be overlooked.
Thus too many civil servants, armed forces as well as technocrats will be needed to be transferred to other parts of the Syriaq nation as needed to rebuild the entire nation. Many regions of what would become Syriaq would perhaps receive, for the first time, serious attention and development from the national government. Regions such as the Litani Valley or central Syriaq.
This proposal is but a very broad outline of one such option for the region, although one in which I believe is the best possible solution to bring the entire region to a more peaceful and prosperous course.
What this idea is missing is both debate and leadership within the countries involved. The idea does ask that each and every ethnic and religious group cede some current political or religious power within their current nation state in order to protect, defend and join with their fellow citizens in neighboring nations to create a much larger common good.
Ibn Khaldun called it Asabiyya. Perhaps it is not too late to begin finding a new Asabiyya for peace to finally come to the region. Today is a good day to start.
No comments:
Post a Comment