10 Things to Know about U.S. Policy in the Middle East

10 Things to Know about U.S. Policy in the Middle East

1. U.S. support for Israel occupation forces has created enormous resentment throughout the Middle East.
   
2. The United States has not been a fair mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
   
3. The United States has played a major role in the militarization of the region.
   
4. The U.S. maintains an ongoing military presence in the Middle East.
   
5. There has been an enormous humanitarian toll resulting from U.S. policy toward Iraq.
   
6. The United States has been inconsistent in its enforcement of international law and UN Security Council resolutions.
   
7. The United States has supported autocratic regimes in the Middle East.
   
8. U.S. policy has contributed to the rise of radical Islamic governments and movements.
   
9. The U.S. promotion of a neo-liberal economic model in the Middle East has not benefitted most people of the region.
   
10. The U.S. response to Middle Eastern terrorism has thus far been counter-productive.
    

10 Things to Know about U.S. Policy in the Middle East - by Stephen Zunes

Everyone of those points applies to the UN, or any other nation on the planet.

Most of those aren't facts, but opinions, anyway.

Ok, now to balance the point, you can list:

"10 Things To Know About Radical Islam & Terrorism in the Middle East".

But I'm sure you were going to do that anyway...right?

Islamic Fundamentalism (as you see it today) came about due to US foreign policy and other Imperialistic nations such as Israel... And I could do a list of that aswell, but then behind those 10 - the US and Israeli agression would be the reason behind most of those 10 things...

Originally posted by ghostsoldier
Islamic Fundamentalism (as you see it today) came about due to US foreign policy and other Imperialistic nations such as Israel... And I could do a list of that aswell, but then behind those 10 - the US and Israeli agression would be the reason behind most of those 10 things...

Aw, that's ok...go ahead and post them anyway, since you've got them on hand.

There's a cause and effect for everything. You can't possibly be blaming the US and Israel for everything? Or are you?

.........Nah, you seem smarter than that.

Originally posted by ghostsoldier
Islamic Fundamentalism (as you see it today) came about due to US foreign policy and other Imperialistic nations such as Israel... And I could do a list of that aswell, but then behind those 10 - the US and Israeli agression would be the reason behind most of those 10 things...

Originally posted by Partyof1
There's a cause and effect for everything. You can't possibly be blaming the US and Israel for everything? Or are you?

I am not blaming anyone, merely speaking objectively and making relevant facts available. However I would suggest that the US and Israel are key players in the continuation of anti-western guerilla activity that is occuring in the region.

I would also like to put forward my opinion that the US and Israel knocked the first dominoe over...

as posted by ghostsoldier
I would also like to put forward my opinion that the US and Israel knocked the first dominoe over...

How so?
When the US first recognized Israel as a nation?
Wish to clarify, ghostsoldier?




seekerof

as posted by ghostsoldier
I would also like to put forward my opinion that the US and Israel knocked the first dominoe over...

Originally posted by Seekerof
How so?
When the US first recognized Israel as a nation?

Well, if one wanted to understand my opinon of the matter, one would have to recognise - that I feel that Israel is merely an extention of US Military power. I feel they have a common adgenda... And that, in my opinion, is to create as much fighting and confusion in the Middle-East as to divert public attention away from the Oil being sucked up from the Arab Countries - with little to no compensation...

[edit on 24-3-2005 by ghostsoldier]

Why isnt there a US Policy about Africa?

Hmmmm, I wonder. There is alot of terrorists and wars going on there....

Anyway, great post mister ghostsoldier!


The U.S. response to Middle Eastern terrorism has thus far been counter-productive.

In 1998, the U.S. bombed a civilian pharmaceutical plant in Sudan under the apparently mistaken belief that it was developing chemical weapons that could be used by these terrorist networks, which led to a wave of anti-Americanism and strengthened that country’s fundamentalist dictatorship. The 1986 bombing of two Libyan cities in response to Libyan support for terrorist attacks against U.S. interests in Europe not only killed scores of civilians, but -- rather than curb Libyan-backed terrorism -- resulted in Libyan agents blowing up a Pan Am airliner over Scotland in retaliation. Military responses generally perpetuate a cycle of violence and revenge. Furthermore, failure to recognize the underlying grievances against U.S. Middle East policy will make it difficult to stop terrorism. While very few Muslims support terrorism -- recognizing it as contrary to the values of Islam -- the concerns articulated by bin Laden and others about the U.S. role in the region have widespread resonance and will likely result in new recruits for terrorist networks unless and until the U.S. changes its policies.


by Stephen Zunes - Professor University of San Francisco

September 26, 2001

Oh what a great and objective view. Lets blame two countries for everyone problems in the region.

Jealousy and hatred never solved anything.

Let's just say the USA and Israel have both made things worse in the Middle East by aggressively pursuing their own agendas and ignoring or denying the issues of the other tens of millions of people who live in the area.

Sure Russia and Britain had something to do with it, but the US's blind support of Israel has a lot to do with the anti-US sentiment around the world.

Watch news on any other continent other than North America and you would see this.


Jakomo

ww2 has never ended
it has been a goal since the start of the ww1 to gain and control access to the caucasus, to control the oil, which is essential in maintaining a massive conventional army---as in, the army that will cost the most money and so ensure that more people will make more money out of the wars that are created.
the US is still encircling Russia, and has always viewed Russia as a threat.
once there is control over the oil, the US will push once more into Europe
EG

People in the middle east shouls wake up and realize who the real people causing their problems are and its not the US or Israel. Its their own goverments

Look at the Literacy rates in some of these countries

Egypt-48.4
Iran-54.0
Yemen-40.0
Saudi Arabia-71.0
Iraq-58
Israel-95 (a little contrast for the list)


Some of these numbers are old as I couldnt find more current numbers for eygpt
www.overpopulation.com...$msgnum=312

www.sil.org... pareforaliteracyprogram/countrieswiththelowestratesofl.htm


Across the region, 38% of the total population is illiterate, and more than half of adult women lack basic reading and writing skills.

Their own goverments help to keep them poor and stupid, But hey its all ways easier to blame your problems on someone eles.

Originally posted by ghostsoldier
Islamic Fundamentalism (as you see it today) came about due to US foreign policy and other Imperialistic nations such as Israel... ..

If this is the case, then why do we have Christian Fundalmentalism in the U.S?

The reason is simply: power. Fundalmentalists have no other goal in mind than to see their twisted views of religion woven into the fabric of society, under the guise of "morality".

You are WAY over simplefiing things....step back. How about England's arbitraily drawing boarders after WWI or latent after effects of the Cold War (Russia backing the Arab states and Isreal the US's only ally in the region) What about old post colonial grudges and Islamofascism goes back to pre WWII in Egypt. C'mon you're smarter than that. You know the US is only a cog in a messed up machine (bigger than most). Instead of US bashing why not REALLY trace the root causes, artificlial borders, tribalism, sectarianism, zealotry, colonialism etc.

Originally posted by ghostsoldier
10 Things to Know about U.S. Policy in the Middle East

1. U.S. support for Israel occupation forces has created enormous resentment throughout the Middle East.
   
2. The United States has not been a fair mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
   
3. The United States has played a major role in the militarization of the region.
   
4. The U.S. maintains an ongoing military presence in the Middle East.
   
5. There has been an enormous humanitarian toll resulting from U.S. policy toward Iraq.
   
6. The United States has been inconsistent in its enforcement of international law and UN Security Council resolutions.
   
7. The United States has supported autocratic regimes in the Middle East.
   
8. U.S. policy has contributed to the rise of radical Islamic governments and movements.
   
9. The U.S. promotion of a neo-liberal economic model in the Middle East has not benefitted most people of the region.
   
10. The U.S. response to Middle Eastern terrorism has thus far been counter-productive.
    

10 Things to Know about U.S. Policy in the Middle East - by Stephen Zunes

AMERICA BE BAD!!!!!!!!!

TERRORISTS BE GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

KILL THE INFEDEL!!!!!!!!!!!

PRAISE BE TO ALLAH!!!!!!!!!!!


Give me a break. First of all, the US wouldn't NEED to protect Isreal if every nut job Middle Eastern country didn't try to attack them every chance they got.

I am not going to adress every issue, but I think that you are oversimplifying things, first off, and second you give the US far too much credit in the misery of the daily middle eastern persons life. They had it bad WAAAAAY before the US got there - nothing has changed. The US is TRYING to help change things for the better (which also has security benefits for ourselves).

You can't say that the Taliban ruling the Afghan people was good for them. You can't say that Saddam ruling the Iraqi people was good for them.

We are changing things for the better over there.

American MadMan:

Give me a break. First of all, the US wouldn't NEED to protect Isreal if every nut job Middle Eastern country didn't try to attack them every chance they got.

Yeah tell me about it, eh? I mean, how many times has Israel been attacked by the armies of its' neighbors in the last 10 years.

Oh, wait.


;p

Originally posted by Jakomo


Yeah tell me about it, eh? I mean, how many times has Israel been attacked by the armies of its' neighbors in the last 10 years.

Oh, wait.


;p

Well if you dont want to count terrorist attacks , Last time they were attacked that would be in 1991 when Saddam shot a bunch of SCUDs at them. So it was 14 years ago not 10. They were also invaded during the start of their short history of being a country. So in less then 50 years that they have been a nation they have been attack neighbors multiple times.

The better question is how many times have they been invaded since they have had nuclear weapons. Thats the real reason why they are not attacked lately. Israel is surrounded by countries that publicly call for its destruction. They are not calling for regime change or some policy change but often for Israel as a nation to be destroyed.

They are also out numbered like a 100 to one

But they know Isreal has the Samson option and they will use it if push comes to shove. Thats why they havent invaded recently.

Originally posted by Souljah
Why isnt there a US Policy about Africa?

Hmmmm, I wonder. There is alot of terrorists and wars going on there....

Anyway, great post mister ghostsoldier!

There used to be a US Policy concerning Africa... Back when slaves used to be the prime source of "energy" that kept the country "progressing"...

Originally posted by Apollyon
(Russia backing the Arab states and Isreal the US's only ally in the region)

not an objection really but initially the URSS wasn't against the creation of Israel nor backing the arab states they initially thought that Israel would line up with the URSS because Ben Gourion was a socialist...

Anyway the cold war was behind the globalisation of a "regional conflict" indeed