The sudden decision of allowing Jordan and Morocco to join the GCC was taken during the GCC Consultation Summit held in Riyadh last week. Some people support the decision, while some others oppose it, but the step came after the changes witnessed at the Arab level; the overthrowing of regimes in Egypt and Tunisia, the unprecedented people’s movements in Libya, Syria and Yemen, and the events in Bahrain, all of which triggered security alarms in the GCC countries and they felt the need to do something to protect the monarchial regimes.

This also comes in light of the dangerous manipulative plans of Iran and its interference in the local affairs of GCC countries, in addition to the irresponsible and provocative statements issued by Iranian officials. GCC countries can protect themselves with the help of their people, not by relying on their intelligence authorities which should provide the ‘meal of freedom’ to their people. After all, bread and money are not the only things necessary for people.

Although we are living in the 21st century, some people are still not willing to accept opposing opinions. These people ignore the Internet revolution, which has turned the world into a small village, and social media like the Facebook and Twitter where the whole world speaks one language. There are still some countries which control the press, omit or delete certain phrases and prevent some articles because, according to them, the subjects are taboo.

In Kuwait, when the country was exposed to the ‘earthquake’ of invasion in 1990 which led to the crumbling of the regime and the State, people insisted on their constitutional legacy and their social contract, namely the Constitution of 1962 which was the only guarantee after God’s will.
I want to send a message of appreciation and respect to the leaders of GCC countries. We are not against the inclusion of Morocco and Jordan and we support Arab unity and solidarity but before we take such a step, there should be reforms which allow people to take part in political decisions. This aspect won’t diminish your status; in fact, such a step was taken by late Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah 50 years ago when the Constitution was enacted. This man had an insight and took the right decision because he fortified the Kuwaiti political regime and preserved the ruling of the Sabah family, in addition to ensuring the actual participation of people through the National Assembly.

If a regime is not defended by its own people, it cannot be protected by all the forces in the world, because after all, the regime is ruling those people.

May God Almighty bless our leaders with good insight and help them have a mutual satisfactory relationship with their people.

Email: Youssef@yalmubaraki.com