It is evident that the sweeping uprising of the people of the Arab countries all over the Middle East, has put the traditional Western policy in general, and the US policy in particular, in a state of “Shock and Awe”.

For decades, the traditional pragmatic policy of the West had been to support the dictatorship régimes of the rich oil countries in the region. It has been, as they claim, for the interest of their people to secure a safe flow of the Arab oil to the West. Also, it was reflective of the inherited fear of Islam in the West, not only for religious reasons, but for the sake of keeping the power in “secular” friendly regimes.

However, the balance of power has shifted dramatically, from the side of the dictatorship regimes to the people of these countries, which are mainly Muslims in essence. These people have been building feelings of hate and despise to everything belongs to the “enemy”. In just few days, the West, led by the US as usual, found itself confronting the “enemy”; an enemy he can’t afford losing. The policy makers realized that their dependence on the heads of governments, whom they advocated over time, will not anymore be in their best interest, and they have to shift their position.  And fast.

To the Middle East interest, the West, for a change, made the right decision. They decided to support the people, where the power shift points, and get closer to the new-born democracy in the area. This decision has not been made during the Tunisian uprising, as it wasn’t still clear if such uprising is merely local, and is confined to Tunisia. As the Egyptian uprising started, the west and the USA, were still not sure of the extent of how far such uprising can go. Clinton has issued a statement that the US has confidence that Mubarak’s regime is stable! However, that changed dramatically after the turn of events in Tahreer square changed the way this uprising is viewed all over the world. Tahreer square became the inspiration for all youths around the world, as the symbol of resistance to unjust and corruption. It was also significant to watch the civilized face of Egyptians, who i mainly Muslims.

This was a turning point for the West’s policy, where the essence and tone of the approach changed 180ْ. They decided to side with the legitimate demand of the peaceful people and ask Mubarak to leave. Hence, they support to the uprising in Yemen was clear, so as in Syria and Morocco.

The West has also realized that Muslims, represented by the brotherhood movement in general, are not as bad as they were viewed before. They realized that the corrupt regimes of the Middle East were making the Islamic movements as “Freddy Kroger” of the West’s nightmares. The official policy of the USA now is that they have no problem dealing with Brotherhood movement in Egypt.

This shows a different approach that the USA, and the West in large, is taking a right direction. The people of the Middle East are fully aware that this shift does not mean, at any level, makes the Muslim world or the Arabs are becoming the most favorable to them. Not by a long shot. It only means that the interest of the West now on the side of the people; a fact that should be manipulated and used by the Muslims, as long as it lasts. This should also taken as a starting point by the new Arab policy/decision makers to change the hatred toward the Muslims and Islam that was building rapidly in the West after the 9/11 events.

It is now evident, beyond a doubt, to the Arabs and Muslims that the final call of how the West and the USA deals with them lays in their own hands. Allowing tyrant and corrupt regimes to stay in power is the door, not only to being humiliated and controlled by the West, but to their own demise and perish.