Crossing the Red Lines!
Observers of political, security, military, regional, and international affairs note a surge in international momentum toward war, the excessive use of force, and the disregard for red lines and established norms that have been in place for decades. This is accompanied by a complete disregard for international treaties and organizations concerned with international peace or the protection of human rights.
In March last year, Professor Odd Arne Westad, Professor of History and World Affairs at Yale University, delivered a lecture titled “Why Does 2026 Resemble 1914?” Professor Westad argues that the causes of World War I resemble current international conditions, particularly regarding the absence of regulatory frameworks between states, the increase in miscalculations, rising arms races, and the transformation of regional crises into broader international confrontations.
In a similar article, Prince Michael Lichtenstein, President of the Institute for Geopolitical Intelligence Services, stated in December 2025 that hesitation in enforcing red lines and respecting international treaties encourages policies of using force and creating facts on the ground, leading to wider wars. In his intriguing book, “A Red Line in the Sand,” author A. Andelman warns against the dangers of crossing red lines in the Middle East and globally, arguing that it is essential to revive these red lines to ensure international peace and stability.
A few days ago, several European countries, including Britain, Germany, Finland, and others, advised their citizens to prepare for war by storing water, food, and essential supplies. These calls reflect preparations for the worst-case scenario in the event of a war with Russia and its allies in Europe, stemming from the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Such calls reflect a deterioration in global stability due to transgressions by powers of the international system in various regions. The Middle East is not far removed from this reality. The disregard by these great powers for red lines and international treaties, their pursuit of expansion through force, and their miscalculations in handling international affairs represent a slippery slope leading to the deterioration of international peace.
The Arab region as a whole, and Gulf Arab states in particular, face significant risks amid the deterioration of regional and Arab conditions. Our Arab states are perhaps the most vulnerable, necessitating that Gulf and Arab states take urgent positions, actions, and initiatives with countries worldwide to ensure they are not drawn into the plans of great powers, nor into undermining international treaties or crossing red lines that previously ensured stability and security in the Arab region or globally.
Dr. Tariq Al-Duwisan and Others
Dr. Tariq Al-Duwisan has long advocated for the development of education. Along with other specialists who consistently emphasize the importance of making education and its development a strategic goal for the state—transcending ministerial changes—he argues that education is not tied to a minister who comes and goes. Rather, education is a state plan supported by the highest levels of executive authority, formulated based on scientific and strategic foundations, and implemented through rigorous mechanisms and measurable operational plans. Dr. Al-Duwisan and other specialists also call for governance, quality assurance, and the independence of the education sector. Dr. Al-Duwisan has submitted several proposals regarding education development, which have been published in various media outlets and social media platforms.
On another front, a number of other specialists have undertaken similar efforts driven by their passion for advancing education in Kuwait.
Through this newspaper, Al-Qabas, I urge the executive authority to embrace the proposals and observations of Dr. Tariq Al-Duwisan, as well as several initiatives submitted by other specialists. This should be done by forming a high-level team under the Council of Ministers, with several of its members participating, to evaluate the current state of education and then draw up a comprehensive plan for developing education in Kuwait.
Dr. Mohammed Al-Dalal
