Arabic-language commentator Ahmed Yousef Ahmed said the interest of Arabs in the US election is understandable given that its outcome will affect the whole world. The problem lies in linking such an interest to the question: which candidate is better for Arabs?
“Perhaps this time around, such interest is justified by the novelty of the elections. On the one hand, there is a controversial Republican candidate [Donald Trump] and on the other hand there is Democratic candidate [Hillary Clinton] who considers political groups that associate themselves with Islam to be a necessary part of the future regional equation,” he wrote in The National’s Arabic-language sister publication Aletihad.
Arabs who oppose such groups are wary that Mrs Clinton will win the race to the White House in spite of Mr Trump’s anti-Islamic and anti-Muslim rhetoric and his pledge to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Regardless, the writer said that the Arab world should adopt a new approach vis-à-vis the US election, based on a shift in their mindset from “what will each candidate do to us if they win the election” to “how can we henceforth play a role in determining the winner and, even more, in their politics”.
He added: “Such an approach should include two key elements, namely forming an Arab lobby that would influence the US election, and taking initiatives to protect Arab interests and achieve their goals instead of waiting for others to act for them.”
Another commentator, Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, tackled the election from a Gulf perspective. “Gulf countries are keeping their preferences and positions for themselves, but their concern over the Republican Party candidate is no secret,” he wrote in the London-based pan-Arab daily Asharq Al Awsat.
On the other hand, he continued, no one is hiding their preference for Mrs Clinton despite legitimate concerns about her personality.
“The general sentiment and political consensus is that the Gulf region favours a woman in the White House rather than a businessman who lacks basic knowledge in politics, he wrote.
“This sentiment was reflected in two Twitter surveys.”
Abdulla noted that Mrs Clinton is known and respected in the Gulf region and beyond. She is “a million times better than a candidate who is relatively unknown and politically mysterious.
“She is not just easy to work with, but aware of the security needs of Gulf countries, as well as the importance of their alliance and appreciates their antiterrorism efforts.
“Mrs Clinton is also well-informed about the region. She can deal with it as soon as she sets foot in the White House, not to mention her teammates who know every nook of the region – probably more than their own country,” he said.
“On the other hand, the Gulf region and the world are rather perplexed by Mr Trump. Their biggest concern is his poor knowledge of the world, particularly the complexities of the regional crises.
“The general impression is that Mr Trump is ignorant about Gulf security and does not appreciate the deep US-Gulf relations that have gone through a rough patch during Barack Obama’s term. These relations are likely to become even more strained if Mr Trump becomes president,” Abdulla added.
The writer concluded that Gulf countries see Mrs Clinton as capable of restoring their confidence and fixing the frayed relations with her country. However, it is Americans who will ultimately decide as the world watches quietly.
* Racha Makarem
rmakarem@thenational.ae
