With the turmoil in the Middle East heating up to a potential boil-over into a possible massive regional conflict we, the world at large which includes the United States, must begin to seek a solution that goes to the heart of the problem: the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.
Past efforts to resolve other Middle East diplomatic problems, no matter however sincerely pursued, intensive in nature or noble, have all come to failure. in the end, because the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict becomes the final unsolvable stumbling block: it has become the Common Denominator of all Middle East dilemmas.
Structuring Effective Regional Change
In order to affect a lasting and meaningful peace to this volatile region of the world, the following six proposals, though not too easy to accomplish, are required:
One: Move the United Nations headquarters from New York City to the City of Jerusalem.
Two: Declare Jerusalem to be an International City, housing the capitols of both Palestine and Israel.
Three: Construct adequate and appropriate housing for UN diplomats and their staffs in southern Lebanon.
Four: Before going on to steps five and six, establish a small well-armed force under the direct auspices of the United Nations Security Council.
Five: Establish two new World Trade Centers in both Damascus Syria and Amman Jordan.
Six: Establish Middle Eastern Governance Council Centers in Iran, Egypt and Israel.
Not to be concerned, there is method to what may appear to be a march to madness.
The 2000-Year Plan
I call this proposal, The 2000 Year Plan, simply because it deals with a state of war between two peoples that has gone on for, virtually, 2000 years. And not unlike the American Constitution, it is simple in concept, but calls for brutal measures to install and guarantee implementation and enforcement.
The United Nations Headquarters should be relocated to the city of Jerusalem, for the lost wisdom of having it located in the United States of America makes no sense whatsoever. Maybe at one time there was justification for this geographical location, but most certainly not in present times. It has no functional significance at its present location other than to allow its members access to New York restaurants, expensive department stores and afford them the opportunity to accumulate thousands of unpaid parking tickets.
The United Nations is a sort of cooperative world police force (like Interpol) and, with any police force to be effective its headquartered location should be near the major centers of unrest and conflict. Without any doubt the Middle East qualifies on all counts for what happens there will, undoubtedly, affect all world governments.
To make such a move effective, however, the city of Jerusalem itself must be declared an International City, and it must be done so by military force if necessary. Without such a thoroughly instituted and enforced declaration, the very core of the plan will hopelessly falter.
Most important, however, the capitols of two warring nations, Palestine and Israel, must be located within this international city. This point is imperative, because both factions must feel that the other side faces the same exact threat of rapid punitive action in the event of any hostile behavior. Also, such a move will allow both sides to claim the jurisdiction it covets.
As a precaution and a security measure, housing for UN diplomatic personnel and their support staffs must be located nearby. My suggestion is they should be housed in the southern part of Lebanon that will be militarily protected and listed as part of the United Nations Zone of southern Lebanon.
At the same time, the southern Lebanon enclave will act as a well-fortified barrier between Israel and whatever political faction and their forces that, eventually, come to rule in that beleaguered country.
Something Old and Something New
In order for this auspicious and daring plan to work, there has to come into existence a permanent armed combat contingent, the primary function of which will be to, not only maintain, but to guarantee the security of the United Nations Zones of Jerusalem and Lebanon. These two International zones would be regarded and decreed to be a separate state within states (namely Israel and Lebanon) and, as with the Vatican in Rome Italy, they would be under the absolute and total control of the United Nations.
I refer to this military entity as a - Security Council Army - because all forces serving in such an army must, by agreed upon decree, come only from the countries that sit on the UN Security Council.
This point is very important and stands at the heart of the feasible functionality of such an operation. For in the event of a need to deploy this military force to protect the United Nations Zones, those nations with membership in the council must, by decree, agree to send in massive forces to repel and ‘punish’ the attackers and whatever nation state they were headquartered and emanated from.
Such a Security Agreement will effectively deter situations where groups like al Qaeda can operate from compliant states such as Afghanistan as it existed under the rule of the Taliban. Any form of military or terrorist attack upon the United Nations, its headquarters or members living and working under the UN 'umbrella of protection' of, will be considered as an attack upon - all - member states of the Security Council and therefore subject to immediate retaliation - without debate.
Spreading the Regional Influence of Economic Power and Prestige
It makes as little sense to have the World Trade Center (or any edifice dedicated as such) located in America as it does the United Nations. America is no longer the center of world trade and has not been for quite some time. Clearly, that has slowly relocated its center of activity by gradual evolution to the Middle and Far East. Economically; America is no longer the big boy to beat.
The future for some time to come will be dictated by two factors: Water and Energy. And the area of the world with the most oil and the least water is the best place to locate a World Trade Center. My only variation on such a theme is that there should be no limitations on the number or locations of World Trade Centers. Therefore, it makes sense to have at least one such center of commerce and business in the Middle East, and in reality many others elsewhere.
For the very reason that such centers of world commerce also contribute to technical and exploratory communications between societies, and also tend to act as contributory economic stabilizing elements, the placing of one or two in the Middle East makes more sense than ever.
The Final Phase: Regional Governance Councils
A major problem with such a plan as this is that it does require constant contact between all sides in the active region. And this continuous contact must be maintained at all times, regardless of any state of conflict or belligerency that may exist between the participants at any particular time. They must agree to meet on a regular basis – even during an open state of hostility or outright war. Given the extended state of belligerency that has existed between the states involved, it is highly unlikely that any major issues will be resolved quickly.
However, the exposure to such a meditative environment will, more than likely, hopefully, allow them to resolve minor issues and, eventually, with some outside prodding, they will gravitate to the resolution of larger issues. The main point to be taken seriously in such an administrative arrangement is that no matter what takes place in their parent countries, and outside of their regular meetings, they keep talking.
Meetings of all the concerned nations would be rotated on a regular basis, to be decided upon by the members of the participant nations. Therefore, it is proposed that Regional Governing Councils be set up in all of the countries of the Middle East – including Israel.
What's In It for the Oil Rich Arab Nations?
As stated in his book, "Twilight in the Desert: the Coming Saudi Oil Shock and the World Economy “, Matthew Simmons, respected oil industry analyst and CEO of Simmons & Amp International, has made the following claim: the Saudis cannot maintain their present output. The book is an interesting and enlightening read, and the author has the experienced technical background to substantiate the facts and figures he exposes. In essence, the Saudi oil riches are quite finite and the point of no return is rapidly approaching.
It makes sense that in view of such a future, these countries would want to have an economic investment in support of a well organized, well funded massive research effort into energy supply alternatives. Developing other forms of energy will enable them lower oil production without losing significant income. Their valuable product can then be employed toward the manufacture of petrochemicals, rather than wasteful combustive products (such as gasoline, diesel fuel, heating oil), which yield, at best, a mere 27 percent efficiency. In the long run, their oil in the ground will be able to last far longer.
Most importantly, however, the Saudis and the developed world must soon come to grips with the fact that time, like the supply of oil, is rapidly running out.
What's in it for Israel?
The option to grow as a nation, the redirection of their massive expenditures on military preparedness, and the 'chance' to gain legitimacy as a state in the eyes of their neighbors. And this has to be of major concern to them, because by now, they have to be reading the 'writing on the wall' - their major economic benefactor, the United States, is running out of available funding to support them, militarily and economically, in the manner they have become accustomed to. Their future is now.
What's in it For America?
Eventually freed of the need to be involved in massive economic and military ventures and adventures in the Middle East, the United States could go back to doing what it does best: that of being at the forefront of developing technology. For its own sake and that of the world, America should take the lead in developing new technology, linked to the exploration and exploitation of space for natural resources: and most importantly, the development of new sources of storable and generated energy.
What Other Real Choices Do We Have?
This concept is this author’s visualization of a realistic reshaping the Middle East. It is very much unlike the plan put forth by President George W, Bush and Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice (which was initiated by the Iraqi War); for this proposal does not require a massive loss of life and property. In fact, if it could be placed into effect, it should more than likely save lives. Can it work? Your guess is as good as mine. But then again, what other choices do we have?
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