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tweakabelle -> RE: Are we headed towards ALL out war in the Middle East? (11/18/2012 7:54:27 PM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: slvemike4u
quote:
ORIGINAL: Politesub53
Then the question would be how many lives the west is prepared to lose, to prevent it from happening. I cant see invading Iran and Syria would make things any better.
The solution has to come from those involved. If they refuse to back down on both sides we need to decide if we just stand back and watch it happen, or take on side or another. Neither option presents any type of solution in my view.
As horrible as it seems, we may be reaching the point where nobody has a solution and the whole thing just escalates out of control.
Seems to me Polite that nothing that we(the west) has ever initiated there takes hold or has long lasting effect.The only successful reform and or peace initiative is one that is of their own making.
ba
It is fallacious to pretend that the West is some kind of benevolent, observer without an agenda of its own in ME matters. That may be the attitude of Western people, but our Govts do not reflect this at all.
Just one example: The West arms and equips many countries there - most notably the US which sells massive amounts of arms and armaments to the Israelis, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States and other assorted despots. Not that France, the UK and Germany are that far behind the US in the arms sales business.
Some things that the West could do to help ease tensions there:
1. Force Israel to the negotiating table and to conclude a just peace with the Palestinians based on the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. This, along with item #6 below, are probably the single most productive things the West can do)
2. Stop all arms sales to the region.
3. Broker negotiations to establish a region-wide nuclear weapons free zone.
4. Announce that the West will not do business with any non-democratic State in the region, giving local States a 5 year period to change, and offering assistance in constructing nation-building and democracy building institutions.
5. Start listening to and supporting democratic movements in non-democratic countries - the West has never listened to or consulted the local people about their needs and aspirations. It's time to start.
6. Withdraw all Western armies from Iraq and Afghanistan. There is no good reason for Western armies to be active in the region, except as part of an international peace keeping force (eg the UN in South Lebanon)
These are 6 straightforward things that the West can do immediately to help defuse tensions in the region. Or we could carry on as usual, supporting vicious tyrants and outlaw States, arming any one with enough $ to the teeth and then looking the other way when Western arms are used to suppress local population, buttress tyrants or to enforce aggression and belligerence.
But please, let's stop deluding ourselves that we are wise kind-hearted disinterested observers who only want the best for the region. We are nothing of the kind.
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