He's not dumb so we can assume he was not arguing the US must do what you are suggesting it cannot do. I assume his point is that the US needs to find ways to address the social conditions given whatever role it has in the region.
Sure John. We'll just import em all to the US for a good round of K-12, a suitcase full of cash, and a copy of the Bill of Rights, and send em back.
There's not a whole lot the US can do about the "social conditions" of the Arabs that they won't, or can't do for themselves. You don't agree with toppling the most egregiously despotic regimes, or openly declaring our support for those who call for democratic institutions. Besides quietly pleading with the Princes, the Sheikhs, the mullahs and the Presidents-for-Life to pretty please reform, open, and educate and, by the way, end up in the old dictator horse pasture, if lucky, I'm not sure what kind of proposal you could support.
I'm all ears.
Derek |
