beowulf 1 #1 January 28, 2003 Does anyone think that if the U.N. resolution to create the state of Isreal had failed, the middle east would not be in such a volatile state and maybe the US would not be chasing Ossama Bin Laden? This will make for interesting arguments. Anyone want to be the devils advocate? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,108 #2 January 28, 2003 >maybe the US would not be chasing Ossama Bin Laden? If we had not given the Mujahideen billions in arms and aid in the 80's, we almost certainly wouldn't have had to deal with one of the splinter groups of the Mujahideen (Al Quaeda.) If we hadn't aided Iraq during the Iran-Iraq war, we might not have to deal with Hussein now. Hindsight is always 20/20. The best we can do is learn from the past and move on. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BoobieCootie 0 #3 January 28, 2003 I had thought of the same thing and even engaged in a pretty deep discussion about it some months ago. The conclusion we derived upon is that these f#$%ers would just pick someone else to have a fight with. They've lived wih fighting their whole lives, and that's the norm. From the time they're born to the moment they die, they experience fighting. They can butcher one faction, and they'll butcher another. These f#$%ers have never tasted peace in their lifetime (IMO) so peace to them is just weird (again IMO). They have to fight. They need to fight. They've been trained to fight that they're like fighting dogs - They'll instinctively rip apart the first dog they see. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmsmith 1 #4 January 28, 2003 The desperate conditions in the Middle East were present long before the state of Israel was ratified. The region has a high birth rate coupled with high mortality rate resulting in a population with a high concentration of youth. Combine this with high unemployment, poor natural resources, and a religion that has failed miserably in allowing for modern human advancement, and you have fresh violence served daily on the evening news. Unfortunately, the United States has committed itself to solving this region’s endless problems, and it is costing us “our prosperity” in the process. The billions spent there would go a long way at home funding social issues such as health care, hunger, and homelessness. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Samurai136 0 #5 January 28, 2003 Good point. If things went differently 50 years ago we wouldn't have the problems we face today. Perhaps if the Thrid Reich had lasted a bit longer they would have managed to wipe out the muslims and the communists. Perhaps some sort of emperialist detente between the USA-Third Reich and Japan... Seriously, the state of current world affairs has more to do with decisions made in the past 10 years than the creation of the jewish state 50 years ago. Ken"Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
falxori 0 #6 January 28, 2003 Quote Does anyone think that if the U.N. resolution to create the state of Isreal had failed, the middle east would not be in such a volatile state and maybe the US would not be chasing Ossama Bin Laden? yes, maybe. and maybe also, if Hitler had finished his job. why not go further? if Germany had won WWII, maybe the US would not be chasing Ossama Bin Laden because there wouldn't have abeen a US anymore... some people are just stupid... "Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kmcguffee 0 #7 January 28, 2003 QuoteDoes anyone think that if the U.N. resolution to create the state of Isreal had failed, the middle east would not be in such a volatile state and maybe the US would not be chasing Ossama Bin Laden? Not at all. War broke out between Israel and several Middle Eastern states before the UN resolution was ever passed. This problem wasn't solely created by the West. Everybody (West, Russia, Middle East, Israel) has had a part in screwing up the region and making it the way it is. Trying to blame the problem on one issue is oversimplifying the problem tremendously. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WFFC 1 #8 January 29, 2003 QuoteHindsight is always 20/20. The best we can do is learn from the past and move on. It sometimes seems though that the U.S. does not learn and keeps doing it, over and over and over...----- ~~~Michael Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #9 January 29, 2003 Quotethe U.S. does not learn and keeps doing it, over and over and over... The U.S. isn't the only one that does that! Every country (shit, every person) has done it, and will continue to do it, unfortunately. You have guys and gals like me who are history scholars, looking at world situations and what was leading up to them, we'll say "wow, that's just like XXX becareful" but that falls on deaf ears more often then not.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
