Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Yet at the same time, no one and I mean no one in a policy making position would even consider that there might be an underlying fundamental flaw in US foreign policy. We managed to out wait and out maneuver the Soviet Union until it collapsed and were getting our backsides handed to us by this misadventure in the MIddle East.
Osama Bin Laden spent apx 500,000 to pull off 9-11 while the US has spent in excess of 2,000,000,000 and continues to spend for what exactly?
Hey, I just saw an anagram - or is it a pentagram?
Absolutely right, the shift that is taking place is the attitudes and positions of the US and the Middle East in general. Just post 9-11, most Muslim nations even supported US efforts to retaliate against Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. Today, things are decidedly different due to a large number of things.
At this moment, the biggest event which I believe the press has understated is the situation with Turkey, a NATO ally. It sits in a critical part of the world, it is large, stable, and as far as Middle Eastern nations go, it has been quite successful. I think it is a reasonable indicator of the exasperation felt by the Muslim world towards the US, at least in part due to its relationship with Israel. From a Muslim perspective, many had hoped Obama would shift foreign policy to a less unilateral and some would argue, antagonistic position. When they saw the US make demands of Israel on the settlements, it was a brief sigh of relief that things were going to be a little different. However once the Obama administration backed down from the Netanyahu government on the matter as well as the US's fruitless attempts at lifting the Gaza blockade, they saw the US in a subservient role to Israel.
You are I may disagree but he perceptions of the Muslims are that the US and Israel positions are basically still one and the same, whether true or not. When Turkey, through its incident with the flotilla managed to get the Gaza blockade eased, Muslims see this as the only thing that has had an effect and produced results, not the US.
I suspect Iran doesn't like Turkey stealing the limelight, but has since formed an economic free trade zone, along with Syria. I'm also willing to bet this is extremely frustrating to the US as regional Muslim powers are forming alliances with each other while at the same time turning away from the west.
This is basically the shift I'm describing.
The Muslims may percept the USA & Israel as basically the same, but we know that is not true. Being that Israel is an independent nation even though it receives some American financial aid, the Israeli Government cannot be dictated to by the USA Government.
The Muslims may percept the USA & Israel as basically the same, but we know that is not true. Being that Israel is an independent nation even though it receives some American financial aid, the Israeli Government cannot be dictated to by the USA Government.
Nor should the United States be obliged to come running to Israel's defense if it is attacked in retaliation to an Israeli strike on Iran. This is one of the reasons there is a movement among Zionist groups within Israel working to better separate the special relationship between the US and Israel as they see this relationship hindering Israel's pursuits of its own self determination.
While we certainly are independent nations, can we at least not see where these perceptions from the Muslim world are born? Take a look at the following US vetoes of UN resolutions on behalf of Israel
Nor should the United States be obliged to come running to Israel's defense if it is attacked in retaliation to an Israeli strike on Iran. This is one of the reasons there is a movement among Zionist groups within Israel working to better separate the special relationship between the US and Israel as they see this relationship hindering Israel's pursuits of its own self determination.
While we certainly are independent nations, can we at least not see where these perceptions from the Muslim world are born? Take a look at the following US vetoes of UN resolutions on behalf of Israel
I agree that USA should not feel obligated to run to Israel's defense if it is attacked in retaliation to an Israeli strike on Iran. But Americans need to remember/realize that Israel is the only country in the region which has a democratic regime.
I agree that USA should not feel obligated to run to Israel's defense if it is attacked in retaliation to an Israeli strike on Iran. But Americans need to remember/realize that Israel is the only country in the region which has a democratic regime.
The Republic of Lebanon doesn't? Hamas isn't democratically elected? While perhaps not democratic regimes to our liking, there they are.
Come to think of it, the Republic of Lebanon announced it was going to send ships to Gaza despite Israels announcement to the UN that any Lebanese or Iranian ship bound for Gaza would be seen as an act of war.
Come to think of it, the Republic of Lebanon announced it was going to send ships to Gaza despite Israels announcement to the UN that any Lebanese or Iranian ship bound for Gaza would be seen as an act of war.
An Iranian organization announced Thursday evening that the vessel carrying aid to the Gaza Strip, which was to have started its journey on Sunday from Iran, will not set sail. An Iranian member of parliament said a different boat, carrying four Iranian lawmakers and many other Iranians would set off from Turkey instead.
Seems Iran found a way around this by just joining with a Turkish flotilla instead.
Well, well, it seems Lebanon caught the same case of "never mind".
From that article
Quote:
According to the report, the decision came following pressure on Lebanon by European countries, in light of Iran's decision to cancel its flotilla to Gaza, and in light of the fact that Syria is not sending one of its own.
Seems the US is being left out of discussions more and more. They are now planning on sending aid overland and coordinating with Hezbolla, yikes.
Now with the focus shifting back to Turkish aid ships carrying Iranians and likely Lebanese again places Israel in a tight situation as to consider a Turkish aid ship heading for Gaza an act of war imparts all kinds of legal considerations as Turkey is a NATO ally and the US is bound to defend a NATO ally against non-NATO allies.
Seems the US is being left out of discussions more and more. They are now planning on sending aid overland and coordinating with Hezbolla, yikes.
Now with the focus shifting back to Turkish aid ships carrying Iranians and likely Lebanese again places Israel in a tight situation as to consider a Turkish aid ship heading for Gaza an act of war imparts all kinds of legal considerations as Turkey is a NATO ally and the US is bound to defend a NATO ally against non-NATO allies.
Curiouser and curiouser cried Alice
Deja'vu, didn't this already happen and the US did nothing to defend Turkey.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
