Al-Itihad, UAE, February 16
It seems as though more and more global leaders have been neglecting the fact that the primary victims of terrorism are, in fact, those living in the Arab world. While Arab nations have been at the forefront of the fight against terror, they receive very little, if any, credit for their efforts. Countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, for example, have worked tirelessly over the past few years to expose the true colors of the Iranian regime, which has been spreading its tentacles throughout the region and inciting violence and hatred. They have also exposed Qatar’s efforts to wreak havoc in the Gulf and in Egypt. It is not surprising that once ISIS was defeated in Iraq and Syria, terrorists have starting popping up in places like Afghanistan. After sustaining a strategic blow, these terror groups are now moving to create crises, albeit on a smaller scale, elsewhere in the Middle East. In doing so, they are attempting to convey the message that they are still alive and well. This is the nature of the fight against terrorism: namely, that it must be fought to completion or else it will resurface. Most importantly, so long as the Iranian regime backs these terror groups without being held accountable, the threat of terrorism will become even more severe in our region. World leaders would be wise to nip terrorism in the bud by isolating Iran instead of trying to embrace the Mullahs as rational partners who can be coaxed into cooperating with the West in its battle against ISIS. Iran is part of the problem; not the solution. – Abdallah bin Bajad Al-Atibi