skiing THE FIRST ENGLISH LANGUAGE DAILY IN FREE KUWAIT markets Page 14 Established in 1977 / www.arabtimesonline.com Page 9 SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2021 / JUMADA AL THANI 4, 1442 AH emergency number 112 NO. 17589 16 PAGES 150 FILS U.S. NAMES BAHRAIN, UAE MAJOR SECURITY PARTNERS Opinion Iran tests anti-ship missile Ibn Khaldun: Nations fall if rulers lack top advisors as Powers press N-pullback By Ahmed Al-Jarallah mercial nor financial interests. In Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times fact, these leaders brag about such choices due to their conviction that CHOOSING good advisors is one of those advisors will paint the actual the main ingredients of state admin- image of the country to them and rely istration and growth. That is what an on the demands of the people. Arab scholar of Islam, social scien- This kind of approach is not limit- tist, philosopher and historian Abdul ed to running a country only, but also Rahman Ibn Khaldun had written in parties and companies. his famous book “Al-Muqaddimah” Currently, some Arabian Gulf (The Introduction) - the recipe for countries are suffering from several the fall of states, almost six centuries crises economically and politically. ago. Unfortunately, the plans put in place “Poor selection of the aides (advi- to solve them are extemporaneous, sors) by the ruler is an outright sui- provocative and unrehearsed. This cide attempt for the state because definitely indicates that the crises they blindfold the ruler. Therefore, will escalate if the political leaders do justice becomes illusive”. In addition, not change the approach, not only in “the state reaches a stage of collapse terms of choosing advisors, but also when it is unable to meet and face the on how they deal with cases and files challenges it encounters”. based on scientific, realism and trans- In the advanced countries, the se- parency approach. lection of competent advisors who Irrespective of the ruler’s knowl- prioritize the country’s interest over edge and sagacity, it is not possible anything else has been the basis for for him to know everything transpir- its revival and for getting rid of its ing in the country. He therefore needs problems quickly. helpers who are loyal to the country In the previous editorial, we had and not to the person. He is the sym- talked about China using an Iraqi bol of the state, and loyalty to the British advisor, who navigated the state means loyalty to its leader. transition to a market economy and Indeed, countries get sick. Howev- laid the practical foundations that er, the type of treatment it receives is brought about tremendous progress what determines whether it will heal in a society that was based on simple or the condition will worsen and thus economy and agriculture. expedite the collapse of that country. Also, there are countries that have Therefore, an exit from the current achieved many benefits from estab- crisis in Kuwait can happen through lishing economic and social councils an economic council composed of to manage their plans, and overcame scientific elites who are devoid of In this photo released on Saturday, Jan 16, by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, missiles are launched in a drill in Iran. Iran’s paramilitary Revolution- challenges. It helped them become personal interests and do not aim to ary Guard conducted a drill Saturday launching anti-warship ballistic missiles at a simulated target in the Indian Ocean, state television reported, amid top countries economically because fulfill personal mandates at the ex- heightened tensions over Tehran’s nuclear program and a US pressure campaign against the Islamic Republic. (AP) the economy sector is the backbone pense of the country and its people. and soul of the state. If this sector Time is running out. As His High- suffers any damage, diseases begin ness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ah- Drill drones mirror those in Saudi attacks to run in its body and it will eventu- mad had said in his speech during the ally collapse if the leadership doesn’t opening session of the National As- sembly, “there is no longer the luxury change the advisors and find the right of 1,800 kilometers (1,120 miles). The report did not specify the type management institutions. of wasting more effort, time and po- TEHRAN, Jan 16, (AP): Iran’s paramilitary Revolu- Some Arabian Gulf countries have tentials through bickering, settling tionary Guard conducted a drill Saturday launching of missiles used. worked for decades to seek the help scores and fabricating crises, which anti-warship ballistic missiles at a simulated target in In the first phase of the drill Friday, the Guard’s aerospace division launched of international consultants, as well have become a subject of resentment surface-to-surface ballistic missiles and drones against “hypothetical enemy bas- as a good selection of experts from and frustration for the public and an the Indian Ocean, state television reported, amid height- es.” Iranian state television described the drill as taking place in the country’s vast among its citizens. They have made obstacle to any positive progress”. ened tensions over Tehran’s nuclear program and a U.S. central desert, the latest in a series of snap exercises called amid the escalating great strides in their development and The best evidence of this insight- pressure campaign against the Islamic Republic. tensions over its nuclear program. Footage also showed four unmanned, triangle- progress. ful vision is the decline in the credit shaped drones flying in a tight formation, smashing into targets and exploding. In some other countries, selection rating by two degrees from “AA2” Footage showed two missiles smash into a target that Iranian state The drill drones resembled those used in a 2019 attack in Saudi Arabia that of advisors are done on the basis of the to “A1”. This reflects the increase television described as “hypothetical hostile enemy ships” at a distance temporarily cut the kingdom’s oil production by half. extent of their closeness to the ruler, in government liquidity risks, and a Tensions between Washington and Tehran have or with the aim of pleasing a certain weaker assessment of the institution- increased amid a series of incidents stemming influential person, party, tribe or sect. al strength and governance standards Iran-deal lead from President Donald Trump’s unilateral with- This renders such advisors to be a bur- in the country, thus exacerbating the WHO ‘advisory’ against drawal from Iran’s nuclear deal with world pow- den on the public purse. Worst of all, crisis. ers. Amid Trump’s final days as president, Tehran no good advice can be expected from Email: [email protected] deputy at State has recently seized a South Korean oil tanker and them, which means, the country’s travel vaccination proof begun enriching uranium closer to weapons-grade welfare gradually declines. Follow me on: WASHINGTON, Jan 16, (AP): levels, while the U.S. has sent B-52 bombers, the Many leaders in republics or mon- President-elect Joe Biden on Sat- USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and a nuclear subma- urday filled out his State Depart- GENEVA, Jan 16, (KUNA): entific collaboration to address rine into the region. archies choose advisors who are not The World Health Organization critical unknowns. of their political likings, and they ment team with a group of former In recent weeks, Iran has increased its military seek to increase neither their com- [email protected] career diplomats and veterans of (WHO) Emergency Committee The committee urged WHO drills as the country tries to pressure President- the Obama administration, signal- (EC) on COVID-19 on Friday to develop a standardized sys- elect Joe Biden over the nuclear accord, which he ing his desire to return to a more discouraged countries against tem for naming new variants has said America could reenter. traditional foreign policy after requiring proof of vaccination that avoids geographical mark- Iran fired cruise missiles Thursday as part of a four years of uncertainty and un- from international travelers. ers, an area WHO has already naval drill in the Gulf of Oman, state media re- Newswatch predictability under President “Given that the impact of begun work on. ported, under surveillance of what appeared to be Donald Trump. vaccines in reducing transmis- On vaccines, the committee a U.S. nuclear submarine. Iran’s navy did not iden- Biden will nominate Wendy underlined the need for equita- tify the submarine at the time, but on Saturday, a Sherman as deputy secretary of sion is yet unknown, and the current availability of vaccines ble access through the COVAX news website affiliated with state television said KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait listed 435 the Gulf and the Middle East.” state and Victoria Nuland as under- Facility as well as technology the vessel was American. Helicopter footage of the new coronavirus infections and no vi- On the individual level, she said, secretary of state for political affairs is too limited, the committee exercise released Thursday by Iran’s navy showed rus-related deaths on Saturday taking there is a close association as more - the second- and third-highest rank- recommended that countries do transfer to increase global pro- duction capacities. what resembled an Ohio-class guided-missile sub- the total to 157,399 and 947 respec- Kuwaiti students choose to study in ing posts, respectively. They were not require proof of vaccination marine, the USS Georgia, which the U.S. Navy last tively, the health ministry said. the United States than anywhere else among the 11 officials announced from incoming travelers,” the The committee strongly en- month said had been sent to the Persian Gulf.