Exactly, we don’t have any dog in any of those fights. 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.
I see your point, but what constitutes help? More military intervention? Propping up a government that can’t govern? Choosing sides in a civil war in another country, another culture? At least do no harm.
You make good points. Here, though, it’s a matter of degree. One person can stop one rape.
Getting into the middle of a civil war, especially when you do not represent either side, is never over. We have already proved that. When we had more troops in Iraq, we kept the carnage down, but we didn’t stop it (and some would say that we just provided more targets), and that would continue if we kept troops there for generations. It is up to the Iraqis to decide that war is not in their best interest, and to find ways to stop it.
Remember, we even provided Iraq with a new currency and a new flag (complete with Israeli colors!) as part of our “nation-building”. They wanted none of that and none of us.
Granted, what happens to innocents in war is truly horrible. But our question needs to be, “Can we truly help the situation?”. In a practical sense, the answer is no, as unfortunate as it seems.
Would the conservative critics please get in line themselves, or send THEIR KIDS into those countries to die, or be permanently disabled, for modern day conservative “manifest destiny”???
To the ’toon btw, “W” tried a golf ball, failed, so he gave up the game for the troops, and substituted cutting brush in Texas so he could keep closer ties to his desert wars.
ConserveGov almost 10 years ago
Fake!This toon infers Barry’s actually doing something.
moosemin almost 10 years ago
After Cheney, Bush (yeah,BBBBBUUUUsh) and Rumsfeld went on a tear and told the rest of the world to stuff it, why would anyone want to help USA now?
SwimsWithSharks almost 10 years ago
Should have drawn Republicans on the uphill side, pushing the ball against Obama.
chipscount almost 10 years ago
living in the past as always – old ball
Diane Lee Premium Member almost 10 years ago
Exactly, we don’t have any dog in any of those fights. 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.lonecat almost 10 years ago
I see your point, but what constitutes help? More military intervention? Propping up a government that can’t govern? Choosing sides in a civil war in another country, another culture? At least do no harm.
I Play One On TV almost 10 years ago
You make good points. Here, though, it’s a matter of degree. One person can stop one rape.
Getting into the middle of a civil war, especially when you do not represent either side, is never over. We have already proved that. When we had more troops in Iraq, we kept the carnage down, but we didn’t stop it (and some would say that we just provided more targets), and that would continue if we kept troops there for generations. It is up to the Iraqis to decide that war is not in their best interest, and to find ways to stop it.
Remember, we even provided Iraq with a new currency and a new flag (complete with Israeli colors!) as part of our “nation-building”. They wanted none of that and none of us.
Granted, what happens to innocents in war is truly horrible. But our question needs to be, “Can we truly help the situation?”. In a practical sense, the answer is no, as unfortunate as it seems.
Dtroutma almost 10 years ago
Would the conservative critics please get in line themselves, or send THEIR KIDS into those countries to die, or be permanently disabled, for modern day conservative “manifest destiny”???
Dtroutma almost 10 years ago
To the ’toon btw, “W” tried a golf ball, failed, so he gave up the game for the troops, and substituted cutting brush in Texas so he could keep closer ties to his desert wars.