I have been contemplating the situation in the middle east for some time(like no one else is). I see an increasing problem occuring, more and more people seem to be disliking America. I am not a historian, and not very educated in war and historical influences, but I dont think that our presence in the middle east is appreciated by most of the countries in the region. Of course that doesn't mean we're going to leave. I mean first off there is the overwhelming amount of money to be had by exploiting their abundant oil resource. Plus the fact that we have just decimated almost all the infastructure in Iraq. I watched a video brought to America by an Iraqi woman, and it showed beyond a doubt that the city of Fallujah is basicly gone, unless you consider the massive pile of rubble.
In other words the country is screwed and we feel( for some reason) responsible. Now my question is, what will happen if we continue to stay, and what happens when we go? Chances are if we stay someone, or ones, will work out a way to attack us, try to dissuade us from continued occupation. But what happens when we go? Iran is in perfect postion to ride down an take a weakened Iraq by storm. But will Turkey (or any other middle eastern country for that matter) stand by and let them take a strong resource like Iraq.
If this stirs up enough unrest and there is some sort of middle east war would the conquerer unite the muslum nations. Dear god, what would America have to deal with then? Let alone the rest of the pagan nations. Muslims would have to bring the fire of Allah's words to the rest of the unworthy countries. Not to say anything bad about the religion. I don't belive that muslims as individuals are bad or radicals, but i know religions as a whole often act on impulse according to the burning of their heart, and that fire is usually directed by someone either acting as they believe god would intend, or for their own personal gain. Either way I don't feel confident that the outcome will be passive.
The overall point I'm trying to make is that there are so many possible outcomes conserning the condition in Iraq but none of the ones I've come up with have any real hope of coming out alright. Again I have no experiance in the subject so please be patient with me and if you see flaws in what I have said please post the other side to my argument. I fear so much for our generation and possibly generations to come with this bleak outlook that any sort of dissuasion from my beliefs would be a respite from the anxiety that I feel about what is going to be demanded of me and my fellow human beings in the years to come.
Could we really be alive to see world war three?
Locke, you are absolutely right in stating that our presence in the middle east is not "appreciated by the countries of the region." Having wondered why there was so much anti-American feelings there, I asked my friend Yashar, who is from Iran, "What do Iranians think of America?" I expected him to say that they think of Americans as being "fat", "lazy", or "greedy": the typical response of those who you see burning American flags on CNN.
What he told me really shocked me: "Most people in Iran love America; we're really jealous of the freedom you have, I mean, almost no American goes without food or running water."
I was somewhat surprised, and I asked him why you see so many people on CNN burning flags in Iran and calling America an "arrogant nation." He told me of a story I never heard of before. He said that in the 1950's, the U.S. government (CIA) gave money and guns to support the overthrow of Iran's democratically elected President, named Mosedeq, in support of a brutal dictator called the Shah. He said that the only reason this was done was for one purpose: to secure oil for the West. He said the reason people over there hate our government so much is not because of our freedoms, but because our government "meddles" in their business, through a policy called interventionism (big word, I know).
I encourage you, if you get the time, to check out a book called "Blowback", or any book by Michael Scheuer. He's a CIA operative and used to head the Bin Laden Task Force. He's written a lot of books concerning what you've talked about in this post.
I hope I could shed SOME light on this issue.
-Thomas
I will see if I can get my hands on "blowback", I still have doubts that the people who are in the position to hurt America have much love for it but I hope that you are right. I believe that when it comes down to it the problem is not going to be whether our peoples get along but what our governments think of each other. since we have a streak of toppling dictatorships there may be one who decides to strike first. I wasn't trying to debate the issue of how Iranians feel or Iraqis for that matter. because when it comes down to it, they will listen to whoever is in charge. That is why the people who are in charge are there, to make decisions everyone will follow so a common goal can be met. But, like you, I don't think that individuals hate other individuals.
Rest in peace
yourfuneralguy
http://www.lowercostfuneral.com/rbrian
do not like our meddling because it says in their Holy Book.
....the Koran...it's a big no no.
WW3 maybe the reason we all restinpeace,
rest in peace
I think it will only become world war three if it become more than a one front war or if other countries get involved to make the UN get involved a lot.
I believe that is what is going to happen. I think that Iran is going to get pissed or something.