I hope Obama is smart enough to get us out of the entire Middle East . We didn’t “break it in the first place”, as many of those who advocate American participation claim. Middle Eastern society has been broken for longer than the United States has existed. In the history of that region, peace has been a rare situation, always imposed by a government strong enough to prevent people who would otherwise be shooting (or throwing spears at) each other from doing so. It can’t be any different when the majority of people would shoot each other over religious differences that would be considered trivial by anyone who had any education that involved more than one book. And, those who are uneducated are convenient tools to gain power for those few who are not, which provides encouragement to keep them uneducated.
But the saying " the enemy of my enemy is my friend" does not apply in this case. Each side is our enemy. We are “infidels”, making us more “killable” to each side than the other side and going over there to interfere is of no value to the American people. We need to simply stand back, allow them to manage their affairs however they would if we didn’t exist, and maybe in a few hundred years they will work it out. Once they realize that we have lost interest in them, perhaps they will return the favor and ignore us too. Killing each other is a more immediate goal.In those cases where we can infuse some actual education into the mix, that probably would be helpful— which is why they hate teachers more than soldiers. But military interference from America accomplishes nothing except creating hatred for our country, and leaving tanks, guns and bullets where they can be used to prolong the fighting. Granted, mutual hatred for America could bring the two sides together sooner than might otherwise be the case, to attack us, but that doesn’t seem to me to be a desirable outcome. Ultimately, each country belongs to the citizens of that country, and until they fix it themselves, it ain’t fixed.
You really have to oversimplify matters to the degree that this strip does in order to make President Obama appear to be an innocent party in this disaster..-“Many people warned of civil war” – Yes, but then we took steps to stabilize the country. These steps were so successful that in 2012 President Obama declared victory while he withdrew all of our forces from the country. Supposedly he was unwilling to allow them to stay unless the Iraqi government exempted our soldiers from Iraqi laws – but his administration did not make any serious attempt to negotiate for such exemptions, and in any case the soldiers we are sending back in are not covered by those exemptions.
cripplious almost 10 years ago
People are allowed to vote in elections run by the Un yet the government is considered a puppet regime
AlnicoV almost 10 years ago
History started on Jan. 20, 2009. At least that’s been the official policy of the Republican Party for the last 6 and a half years.
OmqR-IV.0 almost 10 years ago
No mistaking the caricature of John Bolton, even for a non-American such as myself.
Excellent ’toon.
Diane Lee Premium Member almost 10 years ago
I hope Obama is smart enough to get us out of the entire Middle East . We didn’t “break it in the first place”, as many of those who advocate American participation claim. Middle Eastern society has been broken for longer than the United States has existed. In the history of that region, peace has been a rare situation, always imposed by a government strong enough to prevent people who would otherwise be shooting (or throwing spears at) each other from doing so. It can’t be any different when the majority of people would shoot each other over religious differences that would be considered trivial by anyone who had any education that involved more than one book. And, those who are uneducated are convenient tools to gain power for those few who are not, which provides encouragement to keep them uneducated.
But the saying " the enemy of my enemy is my friend" does not apply in this case. Each side is our enemy. We are “infidels”, making us more “killable” to each side than the other side and going over there to interfere is of no value to the American people. We need to simply stand back, allow them to manage their affairs however they would if we didn’t exist, and maybe in a few hundred years they will work it out. Once they realize that we have lost interest in them, perhaps they will return the favor and ignore us too. Killing each other is a more immediate goal.In those cases where we can infuse some actual education into the mix, that probably would be helpful— which is why they hate teachers more than soldiers. But military interference from America accomplishes nothing except creating hatred for our country, and leaving tanks, guns and bullets where they can be used to prolong the fighting. Granted, mutual hatred for America could bring the two sides together sooner than might otherwise be the case, to attack us, but that doesn’t seem to me to be a desirable outcome. Ultimately, each country belongs to the citizens of that country, and until they fix it themselves, it ain’t fixed.TripleAxel almost 10 years ago
You really have to oversimplify matters to the degree that this strip does in order to make President Obama appear to be an innocent party in this disaster..-“Many people warned of civil war” – Yes, but then we took steps to stabilize the country. These steps were so successful that in 2012 President Obama declared victory while he withdrew all of our forces from the country. Supposedly he was unwilling to allow them to stay unless the Iraqi government exempted our soldiers from Iraqi laws – but his administration did not make any serious attempt to negotiate for such exemptions, and in any case the soldiers we are sending back in are not covered by those exemptions.
I Play One On TV almost 10 years ago
Excellent, Ms. Sorensen. Thanks.
kaffekup almost 10 years ago
He did get us out. What do you suppose the republicans are foaming at the mouth over?