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Muslims should unite in the face of aggression

People expressed their resentment over the American choice to go to war without the consensus of the UN Security Council. However, despite the anti-war sentiment, most of them showed enthusiasm in considering the attack against Iraq as an ultimatum for Arabs to unite in the face of the American policies in the region.

Tarek Daher, MSF Representative in the UAE: War is unfortunate, MSF has about six of its personnel in Baghdad alone, who will continue to remain there, unless security concerns force them to leave. MSF is not issuing an appeal at present for assistance as the ground situation still needs to be assessed. We are waiting to get some updates as to how long the war will continue, how many people may get displaced within and outside Iraq, etc. Only then there can be any decision on appeals."

Dr Hassan Ismail Obeid, Social Advisor at the UAE Marriage Fund and the Arab Family Organisation: "Launching of war at this point of time, indicates that the world is going back to dark ages.

"The 21st century was supposed to usher in an era of peace and more civilised world where there is no room for conflicts. Military option chosen by the US administration has shocked the whole world and cast aside the veneer of civilisation, unveiling the barbaric and arrogant nature of a so-called superpower and civilised country. It has become clear that we live in a world governed by the laws of jungle, where diplomacy is aborted as a result of the American arrogance and the only voice that could be heard, is that of the superpowers.

"I believe that as the international community and United Nations have miserably failed to stop the war, the UN Security Council should immediately quit.

"The main victim of this war is the Arab-Muslim world and the main US target is the Islamic civilisation. Arab world has failed to evolve a common stance against US designs to dominate the region, have participated in this crime. Iraq has been the cradle of civilisation and the crisis will have a profound impact on the Arab and Muslim world. Nowadays in the world of modern technology, no reason could ever comprehend or accept using of force to resolve conflicts."

Abya Al Bakry, a research student: "Despite world opposition from in

stitutions and individuals around the globe, the Bush administration has gone ahead with a strike to attack innocent civilians in Iraq. Saddam Hussein, like a responsible leader, has refused to flee Iraq and the people for whom he is responsible and for whom America will never be able to take responsibility. Whether this war achieves Bush's goals or not, is a secondary issue. The war is an ordeal for the Muslims in every country of the world. Mr Bush and his actions are not the issue. Muslims, including non-Arabs and Arabs have to reconsider their positions and learn to think and act together.

"We as Muslims, Arabs and non-Arabs have to come together and unite in the face of aggression. It is never too late and the victory will be for those who have faith in God and unity."

Zuhair Hamid Ibrahim, an employee: "The US strike against Iraq, is part of the campaign that has been targeting the Arab-Muslim world for far too long. Arabs are to blame for allowing the American arrogance to go so far and threaten their sovereignty. The passive stand of Arab nations while the the US blitzed Afghanistan last year gave the US a green light to go ahead with its agenda against Arab and Muslim countries. I think it is high time for Arab and Muslim countries to come together and forget their differences, so as to have a strong and clear defensive plan capable of deterring American and Israeli threats to the Arab and Muslim world."

Omer Kaddouri, General Manager, Beach Rotana Hotel & Towers: "The hotel industry is likely to feel the impact, for sure. We have been feeling the impact of the Iraqi stand-off for about six to seven weeks, and particularly in the last two weeks, there have been a lot of cancellations of several block bookings. Where our occupancy is normally 85 per cent, we are now running to about 65 per cent. Several corporate initiatives like seminars have been cancelled, although local events are still hopefully continuing as scheduled. In the short-term, I am apprehensive that we will be affected, particularly with people's fear of flying, and airline schedules becoming erratic, but in the long run, I am certainly optimistic that business will recover."

• UAE