There is more behind the al-Akma than meets the eye!
The term “akmah” refers to a high place or a hill that obscures what lies beyond it. The Arabic proverb cited at the top of the article is used to signify the existence of a hidden matter or a secret behind the apparent reality. In a political reading of the current situation, this proverb reflects the widespread anxiety among people regarding the ongoing war in the Arabian Gulf region and its ultimate objectives, accompanied by a high degree of skepticism and suspicion concerning the intentions of the war’s parties and the goals they seek to achieve.
In this article, I am not seeking to promote conspiracy theories, which many scholars and thinkers view as a psychological and social mechanism for escaping ambiguity and the inability to analyze major events that lack a convincing explanation. On the contrary, I call for deep reflection on the justifications for the war, the reasons for its continuation and expansion, and its future implications. This is a serious call for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to engage in critical thinking, prepare scientific studies and research, and consult with think tanks in advanced countries to forecast the future and intellectually analyze the war’s parties—governments and leadership mindsets—thereby understanding their stated and unstated objectives in the war, as well as their current and future visions for the Arabian Gulf region in particular and the Arab region in general (“The wolf does not run in vain”). This should be followed by the GCC countries preparing for all positive and negative scenarios resulting from the war or from the actions and plans of the war’s parties. Indeed, this presents an opportunity to formulate a specific vision for each GCC state or for the GCC collectively in this regard.
We are not attempting to reinvent the wheel in what we advocate in this article. European countries have long preceded us by providing specialized support to political decision-makers and in matters of foreign affairs. The European Union relies on several research and study centers affiliated with the Union, such as the Joint Research Centre and the European Union Institute for Security Studies, in addition to a number of semi-official or private centers that enjoy a high reputation for providing opinions and advice, and which are consulted on major issues. Therefore, it is incumbent upon the GCC system or each individual state to take the initiative in establishing such research institutions and cooperating with existing global research and study centers to achieve the interests of our countries and peoples, and to advance our visions and plans for the future without fear of what lies beyond the “akmah.”
The Court of Accounts and Kuwait Airways
A decree-law was recently issued converting Kuwait Airways into a joint-stock company wholly owned by the state. Of particular note is a provision in the aforementioned decree-law stating that the Court of Accounts’ oversight of Kuwait Airways’ operations and roles is limited to studying and commenting on the reports of the external auditor and the company’s financial statements!
From now on, this provision represents a regression in the oversight roles of the Court of Accounts over government entities. Moreover, it is vague and not clearly defined, which could create numerous problems in the relationship between the roles of the Court of Accounts and those working at Kuwait Airways. Furthermore, it is inappropriate for the Court of Accounts to merely comment on reports prepared by external accountants appointed by the management of Kuwait Airways. Notably, the decree-law mentions “commenting” rather than “identifying violations,” which could be committed by any government entity fully owned by the state.
It is also worth questioning whether this provision complies with Article 151 of the Constitution, which pertains to the roles of the Court of Accounts, or whether it conflicts with Law No. 30 of 1964 establishing the Court of Accounts, particularly regarding the Court’s prior and attached oversight roles over supervised entities, or with other numerous provisions detailing the oversight functions of the Court of Accounts. Additionally, the validity and soundness of this provision must be assessed against Article 41 of Decree-Law No. 31 of 1978 concerning the rules for preparing general budgets, overseeing their implementation, and the final account. This article outlines key roles for the Court of Accounts and the Ministry of Finance in overseeing government entities. It is hoped that this provision will be reviewed and amended in the aforementioned decree-law.
Dr. Mohammed Hussein Al-Dalal
