O leadership … ‘sweet-talk’ policy will not work

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HOW many legacies of leaders have been immortalized in history books, and how many of them existed in life but without any mention in history about them despite having been vocal throughout their lifetime about their achievements that turned out to be mere rhetoric?

There are people whose memories are unforgettable. That is why Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt and some other presidents are famous among Americans. As for the rest, history has overlooked them. Had it not been for Lincoln and his courageous decisions, the United States would live in civil wars and racial discrimination perhaps to this day, and it would not have achieved its renaissance.

Had it not been for Roosevelt and his able leadership during the lean years of the world war, and him being re-elected three times, history would have overlooked him, just like Harry S. Truman, during whose reign the war ended, and he ordered the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with atom bombs, except that he is not mentioned much.

The difference is in the decision and its backing, and the courage to confront those who seek to sabotage under any name – either democracy or social justice or otherwise. American democracy has been and still is one of the models that people praise. It is laden with a determination to reform and continue the renaissance and global leadership. Here lies the difference.

Coming to our neighboring countries, if Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed, and the rest of the rulers of the Emirates in the year 1970 had listened to the beneficiaries of their emirates remaining separate, would they have witnessed this great renaissance?

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia suffered for decades from fanaticism and nonsense that gripped the state’s mists. It witnessed a decline and lost its prestige, and the beneficiaries of plunder and corruption controlled all aspects of the state. The threat had reached the highest levels of danger. However, when leaders realized that their interest is in the interest of their people, King Salman and his Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman took firm decisions in order to change the general situation in the country and eliminate corruption. The country began to return to its moderation, which it was known for from time immemorial, and its openness.

When the threat began to approach Bahrain through the so-called “Arab Spring”, the leadership was in the confrontation. It was able to stop the terrorist advance and the systematic invasion with wisdom and competence.

As for Qatar, without courageous decision and wise management, this great renaissance would not have been formed, and it would not have succeeded in organizing the FIFA World Cup.

In the Sultanate of Oman, the late Sultan Qaboos inherited a backward country. He worked hard, and in 50 years he was able to place it in the ranks of renaissance countries. Today, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq is completing the march towards a greater role.

Not only domestically, but also in international affairs, Muscat has become the focus of talks among international parties to bridge views and solve major problems.

These countries did not stand up and fortify themselves by standing with an MP who grills or a party that closes the country and controls its economy. They also did not observe quotas in positions, or turn a blind eye to the corrupt here or negligence there. They instead worked on distributing powers in accordance with the interests of their people, and not the interests of the influential.

The United Kingdom is considered the oldest democracy in the world. Despite that, the decision of the ruler is prioritized when its internal security and the living conditions of the British are threatened. This is due to the fact that accountability lies in awareness of the country’s interests, not individual ones.

In Kuwait, powers and authorities are numerous such that each one is almost an independent state. The government is in one area, and the National Assembly has 50 rulers. Any employee can disrupt the entire state. This is not democracy, but rather a shining cover for practice and the power of a fait accompli. Here Kuwait must choose between the least, and between the good.

By Ahmed Al-Jarallah

Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times

This news has been read 31043 times!

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