American presidents do not generally enjoy sympathy or popularity in the Middle East.
Every Arab, Iranian or Turkish's dream is to immigrate to and live in the United States, but until that dream comes true, if at all, he devotes himself to hatred of the West, and first and foremost to the hatred of the United States that is the clear symbol of Western victory and political, economic and even technological superiority. His across the Eastern world.
Indeed, quite a few American presidents have provoked anger and hostility among the residents and rulers of the region, but it has been said: even if they do not like this or that president, it is enough that they are afraid of him and respect him.
Thus, presidents such as George W. Bush Sr. and Bush Jr., as well as President Trump, gave up trying to gain sympathy and popularity, being anyway hopeless, and instead acted resolutely and firmly to advance American interests in the region.
Under Bush Jr., the United States occupied Afghanistan and Iraq, while Trump decided to go to war with Tehran, ordered the elimination of Qassem Suleimani, commander of the Quds Force, and withdrew from the nuclear deal with the Iranians.
And look at this miracle, these moves aroused respect and awe towards these presidents and especially a fear of getting involved with them.
After all, when speaking to the people of the region in their own language, the language of power and strength, they understand the message from Washington much better than the flattery and subservience, and especially the desire to please and show understanding for criminal acts and extremist policies of countries like Iran or Assad's Syria.
Biden, who paid his first visit to the region last week as president, is not Bush or Trump or even Obama, who has tried to ride the Arab Spring waves and encourage the younger generation to seek change, but ended up in chaos and especially a surging wave of Islamic extremism.
Biden came here as a weak and challenged president from home, who needed the goodwill of the rulers of the region and especially the Saudis, more than his wishes needed.
After all, his main goal is to mobilize Saudi support for the stabilization of oil prices before they rise to defeat in the midterm elections to the Senate and the House of Representatives this November, and of course in the presidential election in two years.
During his visit, Biden said all the right things, but what is important is what he refrained from saying: First, that the Middle East does not really interest him and unlike Eastern Europe, where he is eager to confront the Russians, or the Far East, where he is in conflict with the Chinese. Seeks to reach an agreement with Iran that will allow it to break away from the Middle East and a host of its problems.
Second, that he is committed to protecting his allies, the rulers of the moderate Arab states.
After all, Americans are known for the infidelity they show to their friends and allies.
So is the Shah in Iran, so is Hosni Mubarak, followed by President al-Sisi in Egypt, and so today, Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman, towards whom Biden has shown coolness and even hostility from the moment he entered the White House due to his involvement in the assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashouk .
Things are clear to all, so it is no wonder that the area reacted indifferently to the visit, did little to survey it and mostly chose to emphasize the weakness and futility of Washington's moves.
After all, no one is really pinning hopes on the US commitment and determination to fight Iran not only on the nuclear issue, but on issues of encouraging terrorism and subversion, as well as increasing the Iranian military presence throughout the region.
The person who took advantage of Biden's visit to the region was the President of Russia, who will arrive in Iran this week.
No one loves Putin either, not even in Iran, but Putin is respected and Putin is feared.
It may also become clear that Baiden did not promote a regional defense alliance with Iran during his visit, but managed to bring Russia and Tehran closer, a move that Israel could pay the price of by restricting its freedom of action in Syria.
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