Minister of Truth
Practically Perfect
Not really a fan of Arab Spring, seeing as how a proto-democratic ME is far more problematic to us than a despotic one.
Not really a fan of Arab Spring, seeing as how a proto-democratic ME is far more problematic to us than a despotic one.
That's actualy a typical conservative veiwpoint. It's better for you and the suckers living under the despots can fuckoff. In order for society to continue to evolve, we all must adopt more humanitarian attitudes.
So you agree our support is not needed, and you are willing to accept the strengthening of the taliban and al-quaida as a casualty of our interference?
That's actualy a typical conservative veiwpoint. It's better for you and the suckers living under the despots can fuckoff. In order for society to continue to evolve, we all must adopt more humanitarian attitudes.
The neocon stance is actually the most humanitarian.
Conservatives like me want to isolate the ME within its own century. Liberals want to do nothing, and pretend like they are helping to save lives, respect other cultures, etc. Neocons want to actively engage in the ME militarily and finantially, so as to spread liberty/democracy and build new/lost infrastructure (oh, yeah, and save beloved Israel).
Does that mean the ME will become less of a shithole?
Possibly, but unlikely until we get a new source of fuel. There's too much money to be made in screwing over the ME. For an easy comparison check out the last 50-70 years of the Qing Dynasty in China. The similarities are staggering and given the way China has turned out, rather scary. Eventually "the middle east will stand up" (see China and the Korean War) and when it does, what are they going to remember about the way the west treated them? We're not making friends over there.Does that mean the ME will become less of a shithole?
Possibly, but unlikely until we get a new source of fuel. There's too much money to be made in screwing over the ME. For an easy comparison check out the last 50-70 years of the Qing Dynasty in China. The similarities are staggering and given the way China has turned out, rather scary. Eventually "the middle east will stand up" (see China and the Korean War) and when it does, what are they going to remember about the way the west treated them? We're not making friends over there.
Oh israel fits right into that comparison, they're playing the role of imperial japan. Read the history, its a more accurate comparison than I find comfortable.Hence Israel. It will be funny watching them "stand up".
Oh israel fits right into that comparison, they're playing the role of imperial japan. Read the history, its a more accurate comparison than I find comfortable.
Possibly, but unlikely until we get a new source of fuel. There's too much money to be made in screwing over the ME. For an easy comparison check out the last 50-70 years of the Qing Dynasty in China. The similarities are staggering and given the way China has turned out, rather scary. Eventually "the middle east will stand up" (see China and the Korean War) and when it does, what are they going to remember about the way the west treated them? We're not making friends over there.
I've noticed throughout history, that wherever a single cash crop or good appears in a particular region or country, it tends to lead to despotism. Whether it be cotton in the American south, diamonds in Africa, gold in central America, oil in the Middle East, or a whole host of other pairings, it always seems to lead to despotism. I agree that the ME will have a much better chance of improving when the outside world becomes free from oil.