Ten,
re: Hard to say, but it's going to be impossible to isolate the Middle East from any sort of Western influence, whether it be economic, cultural, or even geopolitical and military.
Cultural, geopolitical, military would be easy. Economic we are intertwined... but that doesn't mean it has to dominate political policy.
re: You'll also have to include the halt of all imports of Middle Eastern oil, the withdrawal of our influence within the U.N. (which is still seen as a puppet of America)
No, you wouldn't.
re: and a general retreat from any region where Muslim influence is growing, including Africa, Southern Asia, Europe, etc.
"General retreat" makes it sound like we are at war in those regions.
I'm saying, what would happen if we let it go? Let the rest of the world evolve as it will, instead of covertly (or overtly) trying to impose our will?
Maybe help them out with the dollars we save on military offense, also spend a few more on defense. Would we still be the evil Christian Crusaders? Where is bin Ladens political justification?
Just thinking out loud, feel welcome to punch holes in my argument.
John |
