would the western world be better off ignoring problems in the middle east?

1. 61

   nightwork4posted 13 years ago

   would the western world be better off ignoring problems in the middle east?
   
   it seems to backfire when ever the west gets involved, should we just let them solve their own problems or keep trying to influence them?

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2. 85

   Doc Snowposted 13 years ago

   The biggest influence we have is the massive influx of money due to oil sales and military assistance.
   
   As long as we remain unwilling to pay more for other energy sources--and I think that is coming, as concern about global climate change and rising oil prices combine to change the calculation--we can't really ignore the Middle East.  (And we won't stop giving the second, because that is a tool to help insure the oil supply.)
   
   So my perspective is that we've been involved all the way along--but often in unproductive ways from the standpoint of social progress, and hence a stable peace, in Middle Eastern nations.
   
   Analyst Thomas Friedman has put it that we've treated the Arab nations as a "big, dumb filling station."

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3. 77

   Taleb80posted 13 years ago

   The world is a small village now, & no one country can ignore others for his own benefits.

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4. 61

   daouadyposted 13 years ago

   As it is clear from the current situation in Middle East that giving money with out accountability. I read an article stating that he took 70billion dollars. Al this while his people have no job or anything.
   
   I lived in Middle East for 20 year an my wife is from Middle East. The frustration on the street has always been with the rulers first and likes of Al Quada manipulated that frustration to recruit.
   
   http://www.bvonmoney.com/2011/02/11/for … ozen-swiss

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5. 59

   PeterCastleposted 13 years ago

   Considering many problems caused by US government, rest of us, good people from west should stand against them. Since we are all living in the same planet, we need to learn live together. And ones problem should be everyones problem.

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6. 70

   pitzeleposted 13 years ago

   Absolutely!  There really is no point in bothering yourself with the affairs of the Middle East because, as you said, let them solve their own problems.  The blood there runs millenia deep and there is no way that Westerners are going to be able to establish a lasting peace. Unless you are an expert in the Middle East (and even then there is no guarantees), it is much better to just let this country fight that country and deal with what needs to be dealt with and let us over here deal with our problems - we have enough of them.  And stop sending over the UN and company to yell at people for defending their country - there isn't any good coming from this, so why do it?

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7. 81

   Wayne Brownposted 13 years ago

   Because of the dependence on crude oil from that region, I doubt that any country in the western world can afford to totally ignore it. That is one aspect of the problem, the other is the proliferation of nuclear materials giving countries such as Iran the ability to create nuclear weapons. Even if we could afford to ignore the Middle East on the basis of energy, the weapons become a global issue when in the hands of religious zealots bent on erasing non-Islamic humanity from the earth.  Thus the Middle East is a problem for the world in multiple ways...energy, nuclear capability, religious fanaticism, and cultural confliction. These are issues that will likely only get more complicated and could easily become the precursor to a world at war. WB

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8. 0

   surlyoldcatposted 13 years ago

   Nope. The west has a vested interest in the socio-policical structior and the economy of the Middle East for it's own needs. Once it's realised that the West is in serious trouble when the new regime (or the current military interim government realizes what it has now) gets takes complete control..say goodbye to that comfortable lifestyle folks.

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9. 97

   PaulGoodman67posted 13 years ago

   The West definitely should take an interest, but maybe the time for trying to run all their affairs is over.

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10. 56

    cartersmith03posted 13 years ago

    Westerns just cannot not interfere with the ongoings on middle east, simply because they have their own agenda commonly and popularly known as OIL.
    But middle eastern countries have way more complex issues to be dealt with other than oil and pharaoh-like leadership.
    I read this interesting article concerning the core problems of middle east and how they can be dealt with. Here is the link.
    http://ukforex12.blogspot.com/2011/02/p … ed-by.html

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11. 72

    chasemillisposted 13 years ago

    definitely not because of the world economy. If they hit an economic downfall, we will too

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