How does our country benefit from being constantly involved in the Middle East?

[BrianNole09]

I don't get it. The U.S. is involved in every conflict in the Middle East, it seems. We invade, or take sides, give weapons to one side and completely piss off the other side. The price we pay is having to constantly deal with terrorism.

The Middle East is a total disaster and it will always be that way. The Muslims have been fighting with each other for 1,400 years, since their prophet died.

How does the U.S. benefit from our governments continual involvement? I think we need to get out...now.

 

[strummingram]

I think we should have gotten out long ago. I sometimes think it's too late now.

 

[SSG T]

There is only one reason anyone in the US cares about the ME, and I'm pretty sure we all know what that thing is.

Oil. They have it, we want it.

 

[ottumwan in tx]

oil and the overthrowing of governments, politics, oil and more oil

 

[BrianNole09]

I think we should have gotten out long ago. I sometimes think it's too late now.

I think it's too late, as well. We have so many enemies there due to our governments actions.

Off the top of my head:

1.) We give Israel 3 billion a year to fund their war with the Arabs over a real estate deal gone bad. The Arabs hate us.
2.) We support the draconian regime of Saudi Arabia.
3.) We arm the Syrian "rebels" (we don't even know who they are, really) to overthrow Assad, who is fighting ISIS and other extremists.
4.) We topple Saddam Hussein (thanks Bush), waste trillions of dollars and Iraq turns into total chaos.
5.) We help overthrow Qaddaffi and Libya becomes a jihadist playground.

These are just a few of the epic blunders that our government has done the last decade and it only brings terrorism back to us.

 

[BrianNole09]

There is only one reason anyone in the US cares about the ME, and I'm pretty sure we all know what that thing is.

Oil. They have it, we want it.

That's part of it. I think a big part is the idiotic ideal of "spreading democracy."

 

[86Hawkeye]

There is only one reason anyone in the US cares about the ME, and I'm pretty sure we all know what that thing is.

Oil. They have it, we want it.

Oil is not the entire story in this day and age.

Without the oil, we would still need to be involved there.

Nuclear weapons, terrorism, etc. Things that take root there can easily come here. It;s happened before and will happen again.

 

[86Hawkeye]

I think it's too late, as well. We have so many enemies there due to our governments actions.

Off the top of my head:

1.) We give Israel 3 billion a year to fund their war with the Arabs over a real estate deal gone bad. The Arabs hate us.
2.) We support the draconian regime of Saudi Arabia.
3.) We arm the Syrian "rebels" (we don't even know who they are, really) to overthrow Assad, who is fighting ISIS and other extremists.
4.) We topple Saddam Hussein (thanks Bush), waste trillions of dollars and Iraq turns into total chaos.
5.) We help overthrow Qaddaffi and Libya becomes a jihadist playground.

These are just a few of the epic blunders that our government has done the last decade and it only brings terrorism back to us.

What did we do in Afghanistan to bring about 911?

We did none of those things.

 

[ottumwan in tx]

I think it's too late, as well. We have so many enemies there due to our governments actions.

Off the top of my head:

1.) We give Israel 3 billion a year to fund their war with the Arabs over a real estate deal gone bad. The Arabs hate us.
2.) We support the draconian regime of Saudi Arabia.
3.) We arm the Syrian "rebels" (we don't even know who they are, really) to overthrow Assad, who is fighting ISIS and other extremists.
4.) We topple Saddam Hussein (thanks Bush), waste trillions of dollars and Iraq turns into total chaos.
5.) We help overthrow Qaddaffi and Libya becomes a jihadist playground.

These are just a few of the epic blunders that our government has done the last decade and it only brings terrorism back to us.

we are starting to find out who the rebels are that we've been funding, or france is finding out!

 

[SSG T]

That's part of it. I think a big part is the idiotic ideal of "spreading democracy."

I'm talking reality, not what the politicians tell us.

 

[ottumwan in tx]

What did we do in Afghanistan to bring about 911?

We did none of those things.

see Charlie Wilson's war

 

[BrianNole09]

What did we do in Afghanistan to bring about 911?

We did none of those things.

According to Bin Laden, we were attacked on 9/11 for supporting Israel and supporting the Saudi regime.

 

[SSG T]

Oil is not the entire story in this day and age.

Without the oil, we would still need to be involved there.

Nuclear weapons, terrorism, etc. Things that take root there can easily come here. It;s happened before and will happen again.

It's the biggest story in this day and age. The terrorism towards western powers wouldn't exist without the oil because we would give two craps about the ME, including Israel. The oil is why we care, the oil is why our economic interests are there and our presence and influence is why the hate us.

 

[BrianNole09]

I forgot to mention, Iran hates us because we overthrew their democracy in the 1950's and replaced it with a brutal dictator in the Shah.

 

[SSG T]

According to Bin Laden, we were attacked on 9/11 for supporting Israel and supporting the Saudi regime.

And for being on what they consider holy ground.

 

[strummingram]

I forgot to mention, Iran hates us because we overthrew their democracy in the 1950's and replaced it with a brutal dictator in the Shah.

Not all Iranians hate us now, because of that.

 

[ottumwan in tx]

rick steves is a commie

 

[herecomethehawkeyes]

We invade, or take sides, give weapons to one side and completely piss off the other side.

The rebels we arm today will be the terrorists we are fighting tomorrow.

 

[ottumwan in tx]

The rebels we arm today will be the terrorists we are fighting tomorrow.

or that france was fighting on friday

 

[Joes Place]

It's all about oil, & the world's massive energy dependence on it.

Which is why we absolutely need a comprehensive energy policy, and a Manhatten Project-like effort to work on alternatives.

Solar & wind won't cut it, but could contribute a decent percentage. We need thorium based nuclear power; we have enough of it to last for centuries, & we could use that energy for electric vehicles, or to produce synthetic fuels for regular cars.

Until we do that, we are stuck with kissing up to the Saudis & other crappy regimes, just to guarantee our fix for more oil.

 

[ottumwan in tx]

It's all about oil, & the world's massive energy dependence on it.

Which is why we absolutely need a comprehensive energy policy, and a Manhatten Project-like effort to work on alternatives.

Solar & wind won't cut it, but could contribute a decent percentage. We need thorium based nuclear power; we have enough of it to last for centuries, & we could use that energy for electric vehicles, or to produce synthetic fuels for regular cars.

Until we do that, we are stuck with kissing up to the Saudis & other crappy regimes, just to guarantee our fix for more oil.

we can call it the "Fukushima Project "

 

[sijoint]

It's the biggest story in this day and age. The terrorism towards western powers wouldn't exist without the oil because we would give two craps about the ME, including Israel. The oil is why we care, the oil is why our economic interests are there and our presence and influence is why the hate us.

Where did this idea that oil is the reason we are involved in wars of the ME?, and the extension of that idea that fossil fuel-based energy + man using fossil fuels is the culpit, destroying our environ is fact. (Seriously.....when and from whom did you guys first hear this?)

 

[Joes Place]

we can call it the "Fukushima Project "

You could, but it would be rather stupid, because thorium reactors are inherently safe, cannot melt down, and produce almost no waste compared to reactors in use today.

 

[naturalmwa]

While oil is no doubt a cause, one should fess up that Israel and US evangelicals are other reasons we pay so much attention to that area.

 

[hansenhawk]

Pretty simple:

1- Become energy independent
2- Seal off all those bastards from this country.

We can't seem to do either, that is the problem.

 

[SSG T]

Where did this idea that oil is the reason we are involved in wars of the ME?, and the extension of that idea that fossil fuel-based energy + man using fossil fuels is the culpit, destroying our environ is fact. (Seriously.....when and from whom did you guys first hear this?)

Where did anyone hear that it isn't the reason? Most people in this country probably couldn't name a single ME country prior to about 1973. Our entire involvement in the ME is economics, based around the oil.

Here's a hint, if OPEC was centered in Kenya or the Sudan, we'd have fought about 10 wars in Africa in the last 40 years.

 

[Big Hawk D-Port]

I don't get it. The U.S. is involved in every conflict in the Middle East, it seems. We invade, or take sides, give weapons to one side and completely piss off the other side. The price we pay is having to constantly deal with terrorism.

The Middle East is a total disaster and it will always be that way. The Muslims have been fighting with each other for 1,400 years, since their prophet died.

How does the U.S. benefit from our governments continual involvement? I think we need to get out...now.

We took this attitude in Syria and Libya and have millions of people pouring into Western Europe. Can't ignore it unfortunately.

 

[Titanhawk2]

I don't get it. The U.S. is involved in every conflict in the Middle East, it seems. We invade, or take sides, give weapons to one side and completely piss off the other side. The price we pay is having to constantly deal with terrorism.

The Middle East is a total disaster and it will always be that way. The Muslims have been fighting with each other for 1,400 years, since their prophet died.

How does the U.S. benefit from our governments continual involvement? I think we need to get out...now.

Similar answer to why you benefit from your local police force's constant presence in the bad parts of your town. Not the same, but similar.

 

[aflachawk]

I don't get it. The U.S. is involved in every conflict in the Middle East, it seems. We invade, or take sides, give weapons to one side and completely piss off the other side. The price we pay is having to constantly deal with terrorism.

The Middle East is a total disaster and it will always be that way. The Muslims have been fighting with each other for 1,400 years, since their prophet died.

How does the U.S. benefit from our governments continual involvement? I think we need to get out...now.

The mistake you make is to assume they are hitting us here because of what we have done there. We are the great Satan not because of what we do but instead of who we are . Mostly there hate our modernity and the rights we bestow to our people. They also hate democracy. Like Ron Paul you believe them when they say those lies but they are only lies

 

[hawkssox1]

Barry said recently ISIS "WAS UNDER CONTROL"so you have that.

 

[BrianNole09]

The mistake you make is to assume they are hitting us here because of what we have done there. We are the great Satan not because of what we do but instead of who we are . Mostly there hate our modernity and the rights we bestow to our people. They also hate democracy. Like Ron Paul you believe them when they say those lies but they are only lies

That's simply not true. Why don't they attack Switzerland?

I assume you've never met many Middle Eastern people or read about the history of the region.

 

[hawkssox1]

That's simply not true. Why don't they attack Switzerland?

I assume you've never met many Middle Eastern people or read about the history of the region.

Better borders?

 

[Vroom_C14]

I think we should have gotten out long ago. I sometimes think it's too late now.

I think it was brought to the POTUS' attention the other day - "get out or double down." Snuffleupagus asked him.

Our POTUS is weak, wavering and timid. Not that we need a tyrant in office, but at least someone that will draw a line and enact repercussions when crossed.

 

[BrianNole09]

Better borders?

No, it's because they hate us because of our foreign policy. Switzerland doesn't meddle and they don't have to worry about Islamic terrorism.

 

[BrianNole09]

I think it was brought to the POTUS' attention the other day - "get out or double down." Snuffleupagus asked him.

Our POTUS is weak, wavering and timid. Not that we need a tyrant in office, but at least someone that will draw a line and enact repercussions when crossed.

Tell that to Osama Bin Laden, Jihadi John and the hundreds of other terrorists that Obama has personally ordered killed.

 

[hawkssox1]

Tell that to Osama Bin Laden, Jihadi John and the hundreds of other terrorists that Obama has personally ordered killed.

Ciggy has a son!!

 

[Vroom_C14]

Tell that to Osama Bin Laden, Jihadi John and the hundreds of other terrorists that Obama has personally ordered killed.

Ask the P5 country leaders...

 

[86Hawkeye]

I think that some in this thread believe that if the US just leaves the ME and lets ISIS have its caliphate, then they will leave us alone forever.

Right?

 

[BrianNole09]

I think that some in this thread believe that if the US just leaves the ME and lets ISIS have its caliphate, then they will leave us alone forever.

Right?

Yes. They are attacking us because we're attacking them. They wouldn't even exist if we didn't topple Saddam Hussein.

 

[Joes Place]

I think that some in this thread believe that if the US just leaves the ME and lets ISIS have its caliphate, then they will leave us alone forever.

Right?

"ISIS" will never have its caliphate.
Iran would take over the region as soon as we and other Western nations left things to themselves. The Saudis would wage an insurgency against them and merge with ISIS. Israel would be in the middle of it all.
Iran simply won't let a Sunni insurgency take ownership of all the Iraqi and Kurdish oil reserves.

So long as we supported Israel, we would still be a target, so it really depends on what you mean by 'leave the Middle East forever'. If we let Israel fend for itself and stop supporting them with weapons/funding, then it's a decent bet the Sunnis and Shia will leave us alone and fight it out amongst themselves.