You seem to think terrorism was caused by Iraq. Actually terrorism was caused first and foremost by the oppression of Muslims rulers of the Muslims. Yes, Western countries have been complicit by allowing those dictatorships to exist. But your rule of thumb in the first place is not to meddle in other countries governments.
Oh come on.......its tit for tat. That's how humanity has operated since the beginning of time. OBL attacks NYC because the US put bases in his precious mecca. The US attacks Afghanistan and Iraq because the OBL attacked NYC. OBL attacks Madrid and London because the US and UK attacked Afghanistan and Iraq. Its the oldest game in the book.
So I'd have to say, Friedman is right on when he says the Muslims need to take a serious look inward and fix their own problems. Instead, they are always looking for the West to fix their problems and they are always blaming the West for their problems.
How can you say that? How can you possibly say that knowing the recent history of the ME as you do? Starting with Israel in 1948, the Suez Canal in the 1950s, Israel again in the sixties, Iran in the 1970s and again in the 1980s, Lebanon in the 1980s, Iraq in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2003.........we have interfered in the ME whenever our very personal self interests were threatened. We did whatever we thought necessary........and if clandestine, we did it behind the scenes.
Its true the Muslim shave problems but we have done little to help them with their problems. In fact, in some cases, we have made them worse. And if the ME did not have oil, we would ignore them like we normally ignore Africa except on those rare occasions during a G 8 Summit meeting.
You know what I'm tired of? I'm tired of Muslim countries and their inhabitants and the vitriol they constantly spew out into the world. I think there are many people the world around who feel exactly the same way.
And you know what........I am tired of this pretend game where the US pees perfume and everyone else does us wrong. Its like the parent who blames everyone because his kid just got busted for dealing weed and stealing some tires. London happened because we are screwing around in the ME. If you think screwing around the ME is the right thing to do, then you have to accept that there will be a downside to that screwing around. London is one aspect of that downside. <End of story>
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